Harvard Beats Yale, 7-2, Takes Ivy Squash Title

The once-defeated Harvard squash team wrapped up its sixth consecutive Ivy League title Saturday by trouncing Yale here, 7-2.

Soon after the match, however, the team learned that once-beaten Navy had defeated Army, 7-2, to edge Harvard for the national intercollegiate team championship.

Harvard, the national champ for the last five years, lost the title by the margin of one individual match, based on comparative scores against mutual opponents.

The most exciting match against Yale came in the number four spot, where senior Matt Hall battled back from a 2-1 deficit to capture the next two games and the match, 15-12 and 17-16. Another dramatic comeback was registered by Jack Harwood (eight), who rallied to win the fifth game 15-13, after dropping the first two.

Sophomore phenomenon Anil Nayar (one) wowed the packed galleries with a 15-6, 15-8, 15-10 victory. Jose Gonzalez (two) had brief troubles with Yale's Chris Gadsden before winning 15-12, 16-15, 15-5.

Harvard captain Craig Stapleton scored a 3-1 over ambidextrous E.K. Carmody at three, while fifth man Gordy Black baffled Blue tennis captain Jack Waltz with his slam serves for a 3-0 victory.

Harvard's two losses came at six and seven, where Yoshi Akabane and Michel Scheinmann lost close 3-2 decisions. Fritz Hobbs (nine) scored an easy 3-0 victory, as did alternate John Whitbeck.

Injured Rick Sterne, Harvard's regular number two player, missed the Yale match. Sterne's absence in the last three matches was a critical blow to the team's bid against Navy for the intercollegiate title.