ITHACA, N.Y. — Mai Nguyen provided the clincher as the Rutgers women's tennis team (5-2, 0-0 B1G) came back to defeat Cornell (2-4), 4-3, on Saturday afternoon at the Reis Tennis Center. After falling down 3-1 to the Big Red, the Scarlet Knights locked in and claimed three-straight singles victories to take home the dual.
 
"Today's win was a huge team effort," said head coach Hilary Ritchie. "After narrowly losing doubles, everyone fought. We were down, 3-1, and won three singles (matches). Mai was able to handle the pressure, and clinch the team victory."
 
Doubles
 
The Big Red took an early 1-0 after clinching a close doubles point.
 
To get the round going, Nguyen and Minchae Kim provided a 6-2 win for RU at the second lineup spot.
 
Cornell then won the first and third courts to take the point.
 
Singles
 
Cornell got singles play going by doubling its lead with a win on court No. 1.
 
Kim then provided Rutgers with a point, coming back to beat Victoria Zhao, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
 
The Big Red did not let up, though, claiming another win on the third court to stay ahead, 3-1.
 
With their backs against the wall, the Scarlet Knights recorded three-straight singles wins, all coming in three sets, to clinch the match.
 
Naomi Karki and Jackeline Lopez kept RU alive, each winning on their courts to equalize the match at three.
 
With all eyes on court No. 4 to provide a winner, Nguyen secured the victory, 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-4, over Jenny Wong to give RU the dual.
 
Results
 
Doubles

1. Emma Baker/Lauren Stein (Cornell) def. Tara Chilton/Yana Gurevich (RU) 7-6(2)
2. Mai Nguyen/Minchae Kim (RU) def. Michelle Ryndin/Alexandra Savu (Cornell) 6-2
3. Jenny Wong/Victoria Zhao (Cornell) def. Naomi Karki/Arina Valitova (RU) 6-3
    

Order of finish: 2, 3, 1
 
Singles

1. Lauren Stein (Cornell) def. Tara Chilton (RU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
2. Michelle Ryndin (Cornell) def. Yana Gurevich (RU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
3. Jackeline Lopez (RU) def. Emma Baker (Cornell) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
4. Mai Nguyen (RU) def. Jenny Wong (Cornell) 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-4
5. Minchae Kim (RU) def. Victoria Zhao (Cornell) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
6. Naomi Karki (RU) def. Tanya Fan (Cornell) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

 
Order of finish: 1, 5, 2, 6, 3, 4
 
Knights Notes

• Rutgers now holds a 4-2 advantage in the lifetime series with Cornell.
• Since dropping their road opener to Princeton, the Scarlet Knights have won three-straight away duals.
• Nguyen has recorded a team-high five singles victory throughout the dual campaign.

 
Next Up

RU will return to the court on Sunday, Feb. 18 (10:30 a.m.) to take on the UConn Huskies at the Magic Lincer Tennis Academy in Manchester, Conn.

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