Netwomen Top Columbia on the Road

Not even being on the road for two days--in a van for 10 hours--could stop the Harvard women's tennis team this weekend.

Even the flu, which affected several Crimson players, could not stop the Crimson.

Not even the clay courts at Columbia could stop Harvard.

In other words, the Crimson is exuding an unstoppable aura.

After defeating Penn, 8-1, on Friday night, the Crimson did it again Saturday, 8-1, over Columbia in New York.

"Columbia has a such a big advantage playing on clay, since it's the only Ivy League school with clay courts," Nikki Rival said. "But it wasn't that hard adjusting. A couple of us slipped on the grass. I fell twice."

Harvard's biggest problem was its own health, playing without the services of Jacki Farrell, who stayed home because she had the flu. Jennifer Minkus, who felt strong enough to play in doubles, eventually had to forfeit her singles match because of a 102-degree fever.

"It was a great weekend," Harvard Coach Ed Krass said. "Half of the team was holding down a cold or light flu. The team played under a lot of adversity. It was a long ride to Penn, and then to Columbia. But the team rose to the challenge."

In doubles, the Crimson was barely tested by the Lions. After sweeping the doubles matches, the Crimson needed only two wins in singles to clinch the match, its third straight win and 43rd consecutive Ivy match.

At first doubles, Amy deLone and Jamie Henikoff cruised to a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Liz Abrams and Katherine Wanner.

Even though Co-Captain Kristin Bland has been unavailable to play with Henikoff at first doubles, deLone and Henikoff have combined to be a strong number-one for the Crimson this spring. The two have complimented each other's play well so far.

"They're a really powerful number-one combination," Krass said.

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Off...

Christina Dragomirescu and Mulvehal wasted little time in destroying Happy Ho and Tina Von Kesler, 6-1, 6-3. The duo, which racked up a 20-8 record at second doubles two years ago, has been reunited again this season.

In third doubles, Rival and Minkus fought off a tough challenge to conclude the Crimson sweep of the doubles matches. The duo controlled the match at the outset en route to a 6-0 first-set win. But the Lions rallied to take a 6-3 triumph in the second set. In the final set, despite Minkus' fever, the Crimson pulled out a 7-6 barn-burner.

"Jen was a real trooper," Rival said. "I didn't think that she was going to make it. We showed the Ivies what we can do and that was short-handed. We all pulled together and everybody played well."

The Single Life

At first singles, Dragomirescu recorded a straight-set decision over Ho, 6-4, 6-4, while Henikoff rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the first set to win, 7-6. In the second set, Henikoff played more aggressively and used a strong mid-court game to win, 6-2.

After deLone fought off a stubborn challenge from Abrams in the first set, 7-6, the sophomore easily defeated her opponent, 6-2, while Mulvehal continued her career Ivy unbeaten streak with a straight-set decision over Von Kesler, 6-4, 6-2.

"She played a really solid match," Krass said. "She kept the balls deep enough to win. Once again she was mentally stronger than her opponent."

Something to be Rival-led

Rounding out the singles for the Crimson, Rival played a controlled match against Katherine Wanner. The senior dictated play throughout the match en route to a 6-3, 6-4 decision.

"Nikki's becoming a strong player for us," Krass said. "We know that we can count on her down the line."

Harvard's is off this week and its next action will be at a showdown at Yale April 21.

"We're all taking these matches so seriously," Harvard Co-Captain Kathy Mulvehal said. "All of these matches are so important. Yale is probably the biggest match of the season. They defeated William and Mary earlier this season. It should be a tough match."