Mount Vernon, IA - The Cornell College men's tennis team opened the 2026-2027 season Sunday hosting the Cornell Invitational on campus, and at nearby Mount Vernon High School. The Rams competed alongside Loras College, Central College and UW-Stevens Point in singles and doubles action.
Cornell was led by freshman
Braeden Holmes and sophomore
Jack Saunders, who each completed their afternoon with 3-1 records individually.
Holmes opened the day with a 6-4, 6-0 win over UW-Stevens Point's Dawson Froemming before defeating Loras' Hayden Martin, 6-2, 7-5. Saunders posted a pair of straight-set victories, defeating UW-Stevens Point's Anthony Janes, 6-1, 6-1, before earning a three-set win over Loras' Abhi Nagar, 5-7, 6-2, 11-9.
Freshman Trace Turner, and junior Drew Campbell also went 2-0 in singles competition in. Turner defeated Loras' Jaimes Palmer, 7-5, 6-1, and followed with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory over UW-Stevens Point's Ben Temple. Campbell rallied past Loras' Horia Popa, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 10-7, before defeating Loras' Nick Carney, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.
Senior MIlls Arnold defeated UW-Stevens Point's Alexander Sedlacek, 6-3, 7-5, while sophomore Gavin Collyott battled to a 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 10-5 victory over Loras' Sam Canas.
Cornell also picked up wins from junior Eric Dirksmeyer, who rallied past Loras' Evan Fine, 4-6, 6-1, 10-8, and junior Benett Gregor, who defeated Loras' Diego Hernandez, 6-4, 6-4.
The Rams earned four doubles victories during the invitational. Holmes and Saunders teamed up to defeat UW-Stevens Point's Janes and Froemming, 6-2. Lambley and Arnold posted a 6-3 win over Loras' Joao Oliveira and Pedro Rodrigues.
Collyott and sophomore Matt Oshiro defeated UW-Stevens Point's Alexander Sedlacek and Jacob Mano, 6-4. Freshman Kai Kenna and Gregor added a 6-0 victory over UW-Stevens Point's Nicholas Miller and Wyatt Anderson in Flight E.
All three newcomers in Holmes, Turner and Kenna secured their fist collegiate victories as Rams.
The Rams finished with a 16-16 overall record on the day, their best win total since the events inception in 2023.
Coming up - Cornell travels to Pella, IA to compete in the Central Invitational on September 12th. First serve is set for 10am.
