M. Tennis Cruises vs. Lions, Red in Ivy Openers

The Harvard men's tennis team began its annual domination of the Ivy League with two sound victories this weekend at the Murr Center. COLUMBIA  1 HARVARD  6 CORNELL  0 HARVARD  7

The Crimson (15-4, 2-0 Ivy) defeated Columbia (11-4, 1-1) 6-1 on Friday and returned the next day to blank Cornell (9-6, 0-2), 7-0.

The two victories bode well for the Crimson's Ivy League season.

"Columbia is always a legitimate threat," Assistant Coach Peter Mandeau said. "Any time we get a win over Columbia, we know we are doing our homework and paying attention to detail."

Because the Beren Tennis Center is undergoing renovation, Harvard faced both Ivy foes at its new indoor facility in the Murr Center. The team is now 4-0 at the Murr, having defeated No. 26 Kentucky and No. 12 Tennessee at the Crimson Challenge in February.

Columbia came into Friday's match on a three game winning steak, including a 7-0 thrashing of Cornell in its own Ivy League opener. Unfortunately for the Lions, Harvard did not roll over like the Big Red.

Harvard first found its stride in doubles, an area that has provided some frustration in recent tournament play.

In response to a string of losses, Harvard chose to rearrange its pairings for last weekend's Pepperdine match, and the changes sparked great results. The Crimson swept the doubles matches and defeated No. 17 Pepperdine, 4-3.

The Crimson continued with the new look against the Lions and swept the doubles point, taking all three matches.

The new duo of co-captain Mike Pas-sarella and sophomore Andrew Styperek began the doubles sweep with an 8-2 win at No. 3.

The Crimson's No. 1 pair of sophomore James Blake and co-captain Kunj Majmudar, currently ranked No. 2 in the country by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, next defeated the Lion's top team, 8-3. Blake and Majmudar are the only pair that has played together the entire season.

At No. 2, the second new pairing of junior Joe Green and sophomore Scott Clark began sluggishly, dropping three straight breaks to fall behind 1-6. only two games from defeat, Green and Pas-sarella found their focus and rattled off seven straight games to win 8-6 and complete the sweep.

"Green and Clark have had a couple of excellent outings," Mandeau said. "It does take some time to get together as a combination, but they look very good as of now."

The Crimson continued to dominate in the singles portion of the dual meet.

Having lost to the Lions' top singles player, Steve Millerman, in last year's meeting at Columbia, Blake was looking to get even and wasted little time doing so. Blake, who is ranked No. 1 in the country by the ITA, disposed of Millerman 6-2, 6-3 and found a seat to watch his teammates.

The No.2 and No.3 spots went the same way. Doran recorded a win at No.2, 6-1, 6-3. No.3 Majmudar also won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Sophomore Scott Clark registered the final Crimson victory of the day in a long three setter. He prevailed in a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 decision.

Although the Crimson had won its Ivy opener in decisive style, it did not celebrate with a late night because of its a 12:00 p.m. start against Cornell the next day.

Cornell entered the weekend play having lost it last four matches. The Big Red traveled to Dartmouth on Friday before turning the bus south towards Cambridge.

Although the Big Red came into the match pumped, Harvard won even without some of its top players.

Blake and Majmudar were sidelined in both doubles and singles to provide their teammates with some valuable Ivy League

experience. Majmudar also took the day off tofocus on his thesis.

Although the line-up featured some younger,more inexperienced players, the team played witha lot of poise throughout the afternoon.

"We need to get them some experience now, asmany of these guys may be playing much more nextseason," Coach Mike Fish said. "They're under somereal pressure today, but I have confidence inthem."

Fish's confidence was well placed. Harvard wonthe doubles point and then swept the singles witha number of gutsy performances in three setmatches.

Playing together for the first time thisseason, sophomore Mike Rich and freshman CillieSwart registered the first doubles victory of theday, 8-5.

Harvard's No. 2 of Passarella and Styperek weremoving towards a similar outcome when Stypereksuffered a serious ankle sprain.

Up a break at 4-2, Styperek was serving tomove within three games of a win.

"I was serving at 15-40 and I decided to finishoff the game with a few big serves," Stypereksaid. "I got the first one off, but afterwards Icouldn't walk."

Styperek served out the game but struggledaround the court for the rest of the match.

On the next court, Green and Clark were fillingin at the No. 1 position and battling for the win.Passarella and Styperek continued to play untilGreen and Clark closed out the victory at 8-4.

With the doubles point secure, Passarella andStyperek retired at 5-5.

Styperek officially suffered a severe anklesprain and spent the rest of the day on crutches.There was no word on how long he will be out.

Styperek, who is normally the team's No. 7singles player, was slotted for the No. 4 or 5position against Cornell.

Playing in Blake's Place at No. 1, Dorandominated his opponent with a large serve andscreaming shots from the base line. While manyothers were finishing up their first sets, Doranwas walking off the court with a 6-1, 6-0 win.

The win was Doran's eleventh straight in dualmatch play. He has been impressive over the lastcouple of months, moving up a slot to No. 2singles and breaking the top 100 in the ITA'sbi-weekly rankings at No. 96.

Harvard's No. 6 Tom Lee was the next person toregister a point. He made short work of his BigRed counterpart, 6-1,6-3.

At No. 2 Green battled through a longtwo-setter that featured a number of extendedrallies, most of which fell to Green. Although hedid not overpower his opponents in the 6-4, 6-3win, Green's consistency and superb touchsmothered Cornell's no. 2.

Newcomer Anthony Barker won his first match ofthe day when he broke serve in the final gameof the third set to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. The winBarker's first of the year.

The most exciting match of the day came at theNo. 3 and No. 4 positions. At No. 4, Passarellalooked flat in the first part of his match,falling behind 1-6, 1-4.

Looking frustrated, Passarella returned to hisbench in the middle of the second and got somewords of encouragement from Fish. Whatever Fishsaid, Passarella responded. The co-captain tookthe second set 6-4 with an aggressive net game.

In the third, Passarella took his opponent to atiebreak. After saving a match point, Passarellacompleted the dramatic comeback. The celebrationwas short-lived, however, as Passarella had tododge an airborne racquet thrown in frustrationfrom the other side of the net.

The sweep now depended on Clark.

Clark moved up to the No. 3 position from hisusual spot in the bottom half of the Crimsonline-up. Facing a talented Cornell freshman, Clarkdropped the first set 3-6 as his backhand failedhim throughout.

In the second, Clark battled to win the set ina tiebreak, saving a match point. Clark seemed togather accuracy and energy as the match wore onand frustrated his opponent.

Clark pulled out the match, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, tocomplete the Crimson sweep.

A win against Cornell is one of the morefamiliar and predictable parts of the Ivy season.Harvard last lost to the Big Red in 1960. With thewin on Saturday, the Crimson extended the Big Redwhiteout to 39 straight matches.

The Crimson will look to continue itsdomination of the Ivies when it travels toPrinceton and Penn next weekend

experience. Majmudar also took the day off tofocus on his thesis.

Although the line-up featured some younger,more inexperienced players, the team played witha lot of poise throughout the afternoon.

"We need to get them some experience now, asmany of these guys may be playing much more nextseason," Coach Mike Fish said. "They're under somereal pressure today, but I have confidence inthem."

Fish's confidence was well placed. Harvard wonthe doubles point and then swept the singles witha number of gutsy performances in three setmatches.

Playing together for the first time thisseason, sophomore Mike Rich and freshman CillieSwart registered the first doubles victory of theday, 8-5.

Harvard's No. 2 of Passarella and Styperek weremoving towards a similar outcome when Stypereksuffered a serious ankle sprain.

Up a break at 4-2, Styperek was serving tomove within three games of a win.

"I was serving at 15-40 and I decided to finishoff the game with a few big serves," Stypereksaid. "I got the first one off, but afterwards Icouldn't walk."

Styperek served out the game but struggledaround the court for the rest of the match.

On the next court, Green and Clark were fillingin at the No. 1 position and battling for the win.Passarella and Styperek continued to play untilGreen and Clark closed out the victory at 8-4.

With the doubles point secure, Passarella andStyperek retired at 5-5.

Styperek officially suffered a severe anklesprain and spent the rest of the day on crutches.There was no word on how long he will be out.

Styperek, who is normally the team's No. 7singles player, was slotted for the No. 4 or 5position against Cornell.

Playing in Blake's Place at No. 1, Dorandominated his opponent with a large serve andscreaming shots from the base line. While manyothers were finishing up their first sets, Doranwas walking off the court with a 6-1, 6-0 win.

The win was Doran's eleventh straight in dualmatch play. He has been impressive over the lastcouple of months, moving up a slot to No. 2singles and breaking the top 100 in the ITA'sbi-weekly rankings at No. 96.

Harvard's No. 6 Tom Lee was the next person toregister a point. He made short work of his BigRed counterpart, 6-1,6-3.

At No. 2 Green battled through a longtwo-setter that featured a number of extendedrallies, most of which fell to Green. Although hedid not overpower his opponents in the 6-4, 6-3win, Green's consistency and superb touchsmothered Cornell's no. 2.

Newcomer Anthony Barker won his first match ofthe day when he broke serve in the final gameof the third set to win 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. The winBarker's first of the year.

The most exciting match of the day came at theNo. 3 and No. 4 positions. At No. 4, Passarellalooked flat in the first part of his match,falling behind 1-6, 1-4.

Looking frustrated, Passarella returned to hisbench in the middle of the second and got somewords of encouragement from Fish. Whatever Fishsaid, Passarella responded. The co-captain tookthe second set 6-4 with an aggressive net game.

In the third, Passarella took his opponent to atiebreak. After saving a match point, Passarellacompleted the dramatic comeback. The celebrationwas short-lived, however, as Passarella had tododge an airborne racquet thrown in frustrationfrom the other side of the net.

The sweep now depended on Clark.

Clark moved up to the No. 3 position from hisusual spot in the bottom half of the Crimsonline-up. Facing a talented Cornell freshman, Clarkdropped the first set 3-6 as his backhand failedhim throughout.

In the second, Clark battled to win the set ina tiebreak, saving a match point. Clark seemed togather accuracy and energy as the match wore onand frustrated his opponent.

Clark pulled out the match, 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, tocomplete the Crimson sweep.

A win against Cornell is one of the morefamiliar and predictable parts of the Ivy season.Harvard last lost to the Big Red in 1960. With thewin on Saturday, the Crimson extended the Big Redwhiteout to 39 straight matches.

The Crimson will look to continue itsdomination of the Ivies when it travels toPrinceton and Penn next weekend