Raquetmen Fall in Semis at Tourney

The results of the Amateur Squash Nationals in Detroit last weekend indicate that Mexico grows good squash--at least better than the Ivy League. Two Mexican teams advanced to the finals yesterday after defeating Harvard and Princeton in the semis the previous night.

The Crimson squad returned home mildly disappointed, having missed an opportunity of a rematch with arch-rival Princeton on neutral grounds, after last weekend's 3-6 loss to the Tigers. But Coach Dave Fish said after the tournament that the Crimson showed a "mental toughness and physical endurance" that has been lacking in earlier performances this season.

No Show

Anticipating a tough opening round, the Harvard squad was dismayed when three members of the New York Squash Association team missed their plane and failed to appear. Number two player Chip Robie said he was he was disappointed but "felt nothing was lost by it."

The Crimson's weekend was highlighted on Saturday with a quarter-final victory over Ontario. Led by Mitch Reese, playing in the number one slot. Harvard came away with a hard fought 3-2 win. Harvard Captain, fourth-seeded Clark Bain, pulled through after erratic play early on to win his five game match over Ontario's Sean McDonough, Charlie Duffy, Harvard's only undefeated tournament player, racked up a 3-1 win over Dennis Hisey in the number five position. Robie and Geordie Lemmon, in the number three position, both suffered losses in the 5th game after battling neck and neck with their opponents.

After advancing to the semi-finals, the squad was drubbed 4-1 by Mexico's A team. Duffy, after dropping the first two games, made a tremendous comeback to pick up the team's only win.

Top Spot

Brad Desaulniers, who has played in the top spot for Harvard this season, faced a series of experienced competitors on his way to a quarter final finish in the men's single championships tournament. In the opening round Desaulniers captured a tense five-game victory against Bob Callahan, whom he had faced two weeks earlier in the Cowls tournament. In a repitition of that previous performance, Desaulniers took Callahan in a tie-breaking fifth game, 18-17.

In the second round, Desaulniers sunk Brian Roberts, UPenn's top player. After dropping two lethargic games 4-15 and 8-15, Desaulniers came back under pressure to destroy Roberts 15-4, 15-6, and 15-4.

In the quarter finals Desaulniers, despite a fine performance, lost to second-ranked American amateur Mark Alger, 3-1.