Netmen Take Home Opener, Roll Over Ohio State, 6-3

A few scattered balloons hovered over the action Saturday, remnants from a dance marathon two weeks ago clinging forlornly to the Palmer-Dixon roof.

Their staying power, however, didn't extend to the action occurring below. The Harvard men's tennis team quickly deflated Ohio State's dreams of upsetting an Eastern powerhouse, 6-3.

Balloons above the courts were oddly appropriate this weekend, as the match had all the other trappings of an exciting home opener. A crowded gallery provided moral and often vocal support. A star attraction was on hand--the Crimson's Howard Sands, newly elevated to the number two collegiate ranking in the nation.

Full House

And for oddsmakers there was an element of doubt. The nationally ranked netmen, featuring three seniors at the top of their lineup, were challenged by a young and untested Buckeye squad stacked with freshmen and sophomores.

But after an initial stalemate between the new and the old forces, experience--as it is wont to do--prevailed.

Harvard tennis' favorite son, Sands lived up to his billing by being the first off the courts, trouncing Buckeye freshman Mike Massie, 6-3, 6-2, at first singles. Shortly thereafter, Ohio State evened the slate when another freshman, Roger Smith, surprised Harvard Captain Adam Beren with a 6-4, 6-4 upset at number three.

The netmen took off from there, scoring wins at numbers two, four and five to effectively put the match away. Second seed Warren Grossman allowed an old New York rival, Lior Rusinek, to eke out a gutsy win in the first set. But Grossman battled back to take the next two sets easily and the match, 6-7, 6-1, 6-0.

Meanwhile, at number five, Harvard's only freshman, Larry Scott, pulled off an impressive come-from-behind win of his own over Jeff Sparr. Not playing at the top of his game, the lucky yardling survived a first-art loss by hitting a backhand winner to break serve at 6-5, three-all in the second set. Scott then finished off his opponent in the third set to win, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Sophomore Dave Beckman had a much easier time of it at fourth singles, scoring a quick 6-3, 6-2 victory.

The Crimson clinched the match in doubles play, overcoming the Buckeyes at first and third doubles before defaulting in the final match.

The top-seeded duo of Sands and Beren, ranked 32nd nationally, won in straight sets while Beckman and Scott needed three stanzas to dispose of their Ohio State opponents.

At second doubles, Grossman and Rob Loud were forced to default after splitting sets when Loud's elbow problem flared up, forcing him to discontinue.

The win over Ohio State evens the netmen's dual-match record to 2-2. The Crimson next squares off against Army in two weeks at West Point.