The Fordham men’s tennis team started its spring season in a less than stellar fashion on Saturday, Jan. 22, in Ithaca, NY after getting defeated by Cornell University 7–0. The site of this loss was Cornell’s Reis Tennis Center, where the Rams played their first match since late October of last year. Not only was this the inaugural tilt of Fordham’s spring season, but it also marked the debut of head coach, Nelson Peña.

Peña, a former member of  Fordham Men’s Tennis, had the pleasure of playing under legendary head coach Bob Hawthorn. Hawthorn was recently honored by having his name attached to the Hawthorn-Rooney outdoor tennis facility at Rose Hill. 

Peña couldn’t have been pleased with the 7–0 sweep at Cornell, even though he was fully aware of how skilled the Ivy League teams have become over the past few years. Road matches in icy January temperatures are never easy, and when they are competing against formidable opponents like Cornell, mid-majors such as Fordham can only hope to match up, as they have little realistic chance of actually winning. While getting swept was always a possibility for the Rams, being unable to notch a single set in neither doubles nor singles plays was disheartening. The Rams were set to get back on track at Dartmouth over the weekend, but the match was canceled due to the ongoing Nor’easter. 

Their next match is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 5, on the road at Quinnipiac University in Harrison, New York.