Netwomen Say See-Ya-Later to Syracuse

The Harvard women's tennis team stopped Syracuse before the Orangemen ever got started.

Harvard captured a 5-0 victory against Syracuse yesterday at Beren Tennis Center. It was the Crimson's first home-match since February 27.

Because the Crimson has to play two teams today; the match was stopped after Harvard won the fifth game.

It is the third-straight year that the Crimson has shut out Syracuse.

"I think we played pretty well," sophomore Jamie Henikoff said. "We were really psyched because it was our first home-match this spring. It's nice playing on our own courts and in front of our fans."

The Crimson opened against the Orangemen by winning all three doubles matches convincingly. It then proceeded to win the two singles games to clinch its 12th victory of the season.

All five of Harvard's wins were in straight sets.

At number-two doubles, Christina Dragomirescu and Co-Captain Kathy Mulvehal literally served their way to victory. The duo won all 12 of its serves en route to a 6-0 victory in the first set. Harvard gave up only seven points in the first set.

The second set was a little tighter, as the Crimson captured a 6-3 triumph against Carrie Bentzel and Chris Chiminello to win the match. Dragomiescu and Mulvehal's service games were too much for Syracuse, along with every other facet of their execution.

The Crimson won 31 of its serves, while losing only six. It was only fitting that Dragomirescu ended the match with an ace.

Harvard also dominated at the net, continually scoring volley, overhead and cross-court winners at ease.

"Mulvey and Drago served and volleyed tremendously well," Harvard coach Ed Krass said. "They played an excellent match."

At first doubles, Henikoff and Amy deLone dropped the first game of the first set to Kathy Bradford and Carol Kraus, but rallied to win the next six games.

With the score tied at 3-3, the Crimson stormed to win three of the next four games. Both players served well and dominated play at the net.

"Jamie returned the ball really well," Krass said, "while A.D. [deLone] Volleyed well. There were a lot of good touch volleys. They're a powerful number-one combination, who will need to be feared here on out."

At third doubles, Jacki Farrell and Jennifer Minkus improved their record to 9-3 on the season. The duo has become an excellent third doubles team for Harvard.

The duo cruised to a 6-0 victory in the first set over Karen Garber and Marjorie Dippell, mixing crosscourt shots with touch volleys at the net. Even though they won easily in the first set, both players kept up their intensity in the second set.

Farrell and Minkus lost the first game, but bounced back to win the next six games.

Blueberry Bagies

"Everybody came out strong, taking the first sets," Mulvehal said. "It wasn't that windy today, so everyone felt they had control. It set the tone for singles."

Harvard entered the singles action needing to win only two matches of six to defeat Syracuse. At number six singles, Niki Rival, who missed the Dartmouth match, completely dominated Elizabeth Robinson.

Rival only lost three games to Robinson during the match, capturing a 6-1 and 6-2 decision to put the Crimson up, 4-0. She improved her singles record to 11-7 this year.

"Niki has upgraded her game by improving her approach shot and net play," Assistant Coach Mark Wesselink said.

At number six singles, Minkus also improved her singles record to 11-7 on the season.

The freshman sensation crusied to a 6-1 triumph in the first set over Garber. The second set was a little tighter, but Minkus captured a 6-4 decision to clinch the fifth victory of the day.

"Jennifer has worked hard all season, and it's paying off," Wesselink said.

After a tough fall season, Minkus has become a solid player for the Crimson at the number-five and-six spots.

"It was definitely a good tune-up in the sense that we got a win under our belt," Krass said.

Today the Crimson has doubleduty. At 10 a.m.,the Crimson faces Cornell. Then at 3 p.m., Harvardbattles B.C., weather permitting.

"B.C. is going to be very tough," Mulvehalsaid. "They beat Yale, 8-1, and we were even withthem. It's going to be a really tough match. Butwe can't look past Cornell.