Netwomen Topple Virginia, 6-3; Evans and Kunichika Post Wins

The Harvard women's tennis team responded to its first stiff competition of the year with a 6-3 victory over the University of Virginia yesterday, coming from behind in two key matches to defeat the Cavaliers.

Playing at Yale, the Crimson demonstrated itsability to rally in the wake of defeat and that it should be a serious contender for the Eastern title.

After losing the first set, 2-6, top-seeded Elizabeth Evans rose to the occasion to defeat Uva's Sherrie Sime, 7-5, 6-2.

And in the day's other key match, Harvard's fifth seed, Tracy Kunichika, bested Connic Hallquist, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.

"Those two matches were the key to the victory," Crimson Coach Don Usher said last night from New Haven, where the events was held to cut the traveling time of both teams. "Everyone played well, but those two victories proved to be the difference between victory and defeat."

Overcomig a temper, that unsettled her throughout the first set. Evans used a powerful serve and crisp passing shots to defeat her nationally ranked opponent. The Crimson's top player also took control of the net en route to her come-from-behind win.

Meanwhile, after finding herself down one set, Kunchika changed her game and used a steady, backcourt game to dispose of her opponent quickly.

Maria Pe, whose play was termed "great by Usher, defeated the Cavaliers' Shelly Stillman, 6-4, 6-2, in the number-two match. Pe combined quickness with steady play from the baseline to win the match in less than an hour.

Crimson Captain Debbi Kaufman, playing at the number-four position, had possibly the easiest time of the day, once she outlasted Jane Rogers to win the first set, 7-6. With Kaufman leading, 3-0, in the second set, Rogers defaulted with stomach cramps.

Harvard, which raised its reason record to 2-0 with yesterday's victory, will face William and Mary today at New Haven. Usher hopes to use the match as a final warm-up before the New England Championships, to be held in two weeks at New Haven.

"The team really responded well to some tough competition from Virginia," Usher said yesterday. "Hopefully we'll keep the momentum going against William and Mary and into the New England Championships."