Tennis Squads Trounce Tigers, Head for NCAAs

"They fought, they fought hard, but they only had two girls who could compete with us," said Harvard women's tennis Coach Don Usher.

Princeton found out the hard way, as every team in the East has, that two players aren't enough to beat Harvard a team of overwhelming depth.

After falling behind 20, the Crimson (15-3 overall, 60 Ivies) roared back to trounce the Tigers, 7-2, Wednesday at Beren Courts. The victory was the coup de grace of Harvard's second straight undefeated Ivy League season and third consecutive championship.

Moreover, Harvard, ranked 19th in the nation is now the two-time defending Eastern Champions.

"We just have too much depth for everyone," Usher said, "and we will next year, too."

Usher has presided other a humor recruiting year that has yielded some nationally ranked players, making Harvard's Ivy domination smell of dynasty.

Princeton, however, stormed into Cambridge Wednesday prepared to dispel all such rumors.

The seventh-ranked player in the nation and the Crimson's ace, Elizabeth Evans, was the victim of a stunning 7-6, 7-5 upset at the hands of Emily Schuette, while Hillary Shane slammed Harvard's number two, Erika Smith, 6-3, 6-4.

"It was disappointing to see Elizabeth lose her last Ivy League match," sophomore Kathy Vigna said

Evans, who garnered All-American and All-Ivy honors last year, has according to her coach, been overloaded by work.

"Elizabeth is taking five courses, and Erika had an all-or-nothing paper due the next day," Usher said. "They're just not hitting balls [in practice]."

Princeton's successes were immediately nullilied by the rest of Harvard's line-up.

"Every team has some good players," three-year Captain Debble Kaufman said, "but we're just better down the line."

Harvard's numbers three through six. Vigna, Robin Boss, Cyndy Austrian and Kaulman, waltzed through the remaining singles matches without losing a set.

Vigna (50-13 on the year), emerged with a 6-1, 6-4 win and Boss (49-14) eased to victory, 6-3, 6-3.

After Austrian and Kaulman quickly and painlessly disposed of their outclassed opponents, the vaunted Crimson doubles teams look over.

The All American tandem of Evans and Boss sweated to a three-set victory, while Smith and Vigna, then Austrian and Robert a Hing, coasted to straight set wins.

Austrain and Hing's victory ended Austrian's season doubles record at 15-1 an all-time Harvard record for doubles winning percentage.

The team's 7.2 victory lied for the Crimson's closest match onh the East Coast this season.

Clouds on the Horizon

While Harvard has been confidently flexing its muscles on this side of the Mississippi, the Western giants, notably Stanford and USC, have been licking then respective chops for a chance to dellate the high-flying Crimson's balloon.

Harvard is seeded last in the 16-team held that will meet on Oklahoma City next Wednesday to determine the best team in the nation.

Consequently, the Cantabs will meet top-ranked Stanford in the first round.

How is the Crimson preparing for this formidable challenge.

"By taking exams," Usher said.

Some players will be pushing pencils in blue books in Oklahoma the morning before then match-up with the deadly Cardinals.

"We're doing the best we can under the circumstances," Usher said.

User certainly has done his best over his four years at the helm elevating a mediocte Ivy League team to the undisputed astern Champ.

My freshman in year, Princeton and Yale were the big teams," Kaulman said, remembering the lean years. "They seemed so domineering I thought we would never beat them.

Now that Usher and his returning players are enjoying the fruits of their toils a supply that should last for many years to come, Usher remembers the players who were with him from the beginning.

"I don't know if there's another three-time captain [like Kaulman] in Harvard sports," Usher said, adding of his seniors. "A tremendous amount of credit for the success of these four years has to go to Debbie [Kaufman] and Elizabeth [Evans]."