...As Netmen Bow in Opening Round

For the books, the Harvard men's tennis team's record in national competition is now 0-1.

Playing third-ranked Pepperdine in the opening round of the NCAA tournament in Athens. Ga.. the netmen fell, 7-2. and abruptly concluded their first-ever appearance in the event.

Only sophomore Mike Terner, playing in the number-three slot, managed a victory in the singles competition, beating John Van Nostrand, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Down 5-3 in the final set. Terner battled back to force a tiebreaker and take the match. The Crimson notched its other win when an injury forced Pepperdine's second doubles team to default.

"We were pretty disappointed that we didn't make a better showing and take a few more matches," senior Bob Horne said, "but I don't think it would have been fair for any of us to think that we were going to beat a team that's qualified for the semi-finals the last three years."

Playing in the sixth position. Horne was the only Crimson singles competitor other than Terner to force his opponent to three sets. Horne handily defeated Hector Ortiz in the first set, 6-3 but Ortiz rebounded to take the next two, 6-0, 6-1.

In the opening contest, top seed Howard Sands fell to Canadian Glen Michabat a one of the best players in the college circuit 6-2, 7-6. "Michabata is so smooth. He really looks like a pro," captain Don Pompan said later. "Howard gave him a tough match under the circumstances."

Pompan, the Crimson's number two met with similar frustration when he faced Richard Rallian ranked tenth among college players. After bowing 7-6, 6-3. Pompan commented. "I felt like I could beat him, but physically I wasn't as sharp as I was earlier this season.

Revolution

Warren Grossman, number four, and Rob Wheeler number five both turned in sub-par performances for the Crimson. Grossman dropped a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Will Baxter, while Wheeler fell, 6-2, 6-3 to Clive Edges.

Academic concerns plagued the netmen all weekend. Pompan said, "Because of exams, we couldn't get here until Thursday, and everybody else had the whole week to practice. Warren Grossman had to concentrate on organic chemistry and I had to take an exam on Friday afternoon.

"The Princeton players [until this year the perennial Ivy League representative at the tournament] warned us that the Ivy League's exam scheduling makes it difficult to maintain a competitive edge and they were right" he sighed.

Fortunately, the early ousting did not diminish the netmen's thrill at being in the NCAAs.

"You should have seen the crowds that turned out to watch Georgia play," Pompan said. "About 4000 people came and their band showed up too. It was like a football game."

If this year's performance was any indication, the Crimson should have plenty of chances to prove itself on the national level.

"This is by far the best team I've played on in my four years at Harvard." Horne said of the squad that compiled an 11-5 mark and captured its first Ivy title in 16 years. "I see no reason why this group shouldn't win the Ivies for at least the next two years."

THE NOTEBOOK: Howard Sands and Mike Terner will return to Athens next weekend to represent the Eastern League in the individual national collegiate championships. Sands is one of four Eastern players battling for the singles title and he and Terner will pair up for the doubles championship contest.