MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's men's tennis team finished its season-opening double dual with a 6-3 victory over American Rivers Conference foe Loras Saturday night in the Small Sport Center Arena.
 
The Rams fell 7-2 to NAIA's Northwestern (Iowa) College in Saturday's morning opener, bringing the team's dual mark to 1-1.
 
Sophomores Federico Polidori and Chris Penas-Hull both went 3-1 on the day, which featured two wins as No. 2 doubles partners. The pair won tight matches over Northwestern, 8-7 (7-3) and Loras, 8-6.
 
Michael Coester and Edwin Holyoake finished 2-0 at the No. 3 doubles position, coasting to an 8-1 win against Northwestern and winning a 7-5 tiebreak to defeat Loras, 8-7.
 
Cornell held a 2-1 lead through doubles play against Northwestern (4-1). The Red Raiders pulled away by sweeping all six singles matches.
 
The Rams won four of six singles matches to finish off Loras (1-3). Cornell received straight-set wins from the top four spots in the lineup with Alexander Hadler-Strumlauf (6-2, 6-0), junior newcomer Justin Mendez (6-3, 6-3), Polidori (6-3, 6-3) and Penas-Hull (6-4, 6-1).
 
Loras prevailed 8-7 (10-8) in a No. 1 doubles battle with Hadler-Strumlauf and Mendez.    
 
The Rams travel to play rival Coe in a 5 p.m. Bremner Cup meet next Saturday, Feb. 12 in Cedar Rapids. Cornell holds a 5-4 lead in the 2021-22 Bremner Cup All-Sports Series.