Racquetmen Outgun Army, 9-0

The Harvard varsity squash team routed the racket-rattling cadets of Army yesterday at Hemenway gym, handing the young MacArthurs a devastating, if predictable, defeat. The unblemished Crimson record now stands at 2-0.

Although 3-0 on the season prior to 'facing Harvard, the inexperienced cadet squad had yet to face a team of the Crimson's caliber. "We're extremely young," Army mentor Paul Assaiante remarked before the match, "and I'm sure we'll feel some growing pains this year." And growing pains they felt, to the tune of a 9-0 shutout.

Crimson number one man Mike Desaulniers started the onslaught by taking three quick games from cadet Bob Davis. Using a baffling mixture of cross-court and rail shots, the all-world junior from Dunster House sent the "doughboy" scurrying to the showers early on the short end of a 15-8, 15-8, 15-8 decision.

Go Get'Em

Harvard number two man John Havens followed Desaulniers' act, ousting West Pointer Tracy Freeman 15-8, 15-8, 15-12. Although hampered by a sprained right arm, Havens played extremely well, taking command of the match early with a flurry of backhand drives and off-speed drop shots.

The closest match of the day came at the number three spot. Hustling G.I. Joe Martz took the Crimson's John Stubbs to four games, before the mustachioed Stubbs clinched the win, 15-10, 18-13, 11-15, 15-9.

The Crimson's George Bell upped the count to 4-0 with a 3-0 thrashing of Third Classman (sophomore) Will Harrison. Harrison managed to take 10 points in the first game, but soon tired from Bell's aggressive shotmaking, dropping the final games 8-15, 10-15.

While Harvard's top four squashed their Army rivals on the first-floor gallery courts, the rest of the racquetmen followed suit on Hemenway's second floor.

Scrambling

At number five, Crimson sophomore Mitch Reese staved off a late rally by his opponent Al Nelwan to win 15-10, 18-15, 18-17. "Army was in really good shape," Reese said after the match, "you just had to keep hitting the ball persistently and wait out the points."

Chuck Elliott eked out a 16-15 win in his first game at number six, then breezed past First Classman Don Kelly in the final two stanzas, 15-8, 15-7.

John Fishwick and Jeff Secrest had the easiest matches of the day at the number seven and eight spots respectively. fishwick downed Army's Jim McConville 15-3, 15-5, 15-6, while Secrest outgunned cadet Lou Yuengert by an identical margin.

"The courts were extremely hot," Fishwick noted following the win, "which prevented any reliance on drop shots. You just kind of grind out points rather than finesse the ball."

Champion in the Wings

Senior John Heller topped off the Crimson victory with a 15-7, 15-2, 15-9 win over Bob Drum at the ninth spot. In an exhibition match at the number ten position, Harvard racquetman Joe Somers out-hit Third Classman John Stratis, 15-8, 13-15, 15-9, 15-9.

Crimson mentor Dave Fish seemed pleased with the team's victory, the first for Harvard at home. "What I was happy with was the attitude," Fish remarked after the win, "we didn't go out there intending to play sloppy shots even though we were stronger than Army, and that's the way you've got to be."

The racquetmen don't play again until after the holiday break when they host Williams on January 10.

SQUASH STATS

1. Mike Desaulniers (H) def. Bob Davis (A) 15-8, 15-8, 15-8

2. John Havens (H) def. Tracy Freeman (A) 15-8, 15-8, 15-12

3. John Stubbs (H) def. Joe Martz (A) 15-10, 18-13, 11-15, 15-9

4. George Bell (H) def. Will Harrison (A) 15-10, 15-8, 15-6

5. Mich Reese (H) def. Al Nelwan (A) 15-10, 18-15, 18-17

6. Chuck Elliott (H) def. Don Kelly (A) 16-15, 15-8, 15-7

7. John Fishwick (H) def. Jim McConville (A) 15-3, 15-5, 15-6

8. Jeff Secrest (H) def. Lou Yuengert (A) 15-3, 15-5, 15-6

9. John Heller (H) def. Bob Drum (A) 15-7, 15-2, 15-9

exhibition: Joe Somers (H) def. John Stratis (A) 15-8, 13-15, 15-9, 15-9

FINAL SCORE: Harvard 9, Army 0.