MIDDLETON, Wis. – Cornell's men's tennis team came up short to perennial power and top-seeded Grinnell, 5-0, in the semifinals of the Midwest Conference Tournament Friday morning at Hitters SportsPlex.
 
The No. 4 seed Rams won five total games in the five completed matches against Grinnell, which has claimed the past 17 MWC team titles. This was Cornell's fourth appearance in the past five MWC Team Tournaments.  
 
Cornell's No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Alexander Hadler-Strumlauf and junior Justin Mendez provided the most resistance, falling 8-3 to Bowen Mince and Sam Rudenberg. Cornell's pair moved to 9-9 on the season.
 
Chris Penas-Hull and Edwin Holyoake lost 8-0 at No. 2 doubles, while No. 3 tandem Orion Mason and Ravi Parekh dropped an 8-1 decision.
 
The No. 19 regionally-ranked Pioneers (13-11) clinched the dual with singles wins at No. 4 (Karch Knoll 6-0, 6-0 over Bryce Fincher) and No. 6 (Henry Bridgers 6-1, 6-0 over Mason).
 
Cornell (9-13) now turns its attention to the MWC Individual Championships this weekend. The singles tournament starts at 8 a.m. Saturday. Doubles are set to begin at 8:15 a.m. Sunday.