MOUNT VERNON – The Cornell men's tennis team continued to hold strong against conference opponents this weekend, finding two wins over the Monmouth College Scots (1-9, 0-3 MWC) and Illinois College Blue Boys, 6-1, and 4-3, respectively. With the wins today, Cornell clinches a spot in the four-team MWC tournament.

Along with the wins, the Rams (14-9, 4-0 MWC), also celebrated senior Zachary Ong for his past four years with the team.

During the morning, Cornell began with a win over Monmouth, starting with a quick sweep in doubles play, to secure the first point. Junior Trent Devore and freshman Jack Saunders shut out the Scots at No. 1, while both pairs at No. 2 and No. 3 pushed through to finish with 6-1 wins respectively. The Rams went on to sweep 5 of 6 singles matches in straight sets. 

Against Illinois College (9-8, 0-3 MWC), the Rams narrowly missed the doubles point, with the lone win from No. 1 duo, Devore and Saunders, 6-4. Both pairs at No. 2 and No. 3 fell 6-4 to the Blue Boys.

Devore and Saunders began the comeback, pulling out wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots. Devore won in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (2), while Saunders pulled through a third-set tiebreak, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3). Ong fell in a tightly contested 7-6 (7), 0-6, 6-4 bout to tie the overall meet score at 2 apiece. 

Sophomore Drew Campbell pushed the Rams ahead by one, following a quick 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 5, and junior Mills Arnold finished the clinch at No. 6, 6-4, 6-0. Freshman Henry Lambley fell in a close match at No. 4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Ong celebrated his senior day today, with notable achievements of a four-year career on the team. Ong passed a benchmark of 100 wins this year as the 8th men's player in Cornell College history, and has played as a starter on the lineup all four years in his collegiate career.

Coming up: The Rams play two matches next weekend, starting with Lake Forest College at home on Saturday, Apr. 18, 3:00 pm, and away at Grinnell College on Sunday, Apr. 19, 10:00 am.