Erans Trades Tennis Sneakers for High Heels, Ends Three-Year Career as Harvard's Top Seed

Frank Tarsitano calls her "All-American

But the Boston model agent's praise of Harvard senior Elizabeth Evans is more a result of her All-American looks than her All-American tennis skills.

With Tarsitano's praise the consensus of many experts. Evans have given up her Harvard tennis career-which included three years as the Crimson's top seed and three berths on the All Ivy squad-for the glamorous world of high fashion modeling.

That's quite a shift for the Harvard senior and California native, who with a top 20 national collegiate ranking a year ago led the Crimson to its first ever Ivy title and who seemed destined for even bigger things this year.

By quitting the Harvard squad Evans has obviously deals a major below to the Crimson's hopes of national prominence. But according to Harvard Coach Don Usher the team-which snagged its first Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) title this past weekend will have to learn to survive without her.

"We can't replace her," he said, "and we won't be as good nationally without her."

At the end of last season. Usher certainly didn't expect to have to fill such a gaping hope as his top spot.

But that all changed when Evans it received an offer she just couldn't refuse.

Along with 16,000 other aspiring models, the Mather House resident entered a Cosmopolitan over girl contest for the July 1984 issue.

An application that included an essay, a face shot and a bathing suit photo craned her a trip to New York for the competition's final round And although she could not attend-she was playing in a tennis tournament that weekend-the magazine selected Evans as the runner-up anyway.

She received $500 for her efforts and her bething suit photo appeared in Cosmo and in Tennis magazine.

But most importantly, her modeling career was off to a fast start and her tennis career was on the way out.

She subsequently joined Tarsitano's Network Modeling Agency and she's received numerous offers despite the fact that her portfolio has not yet been completed. And, according to Tarsitano, there's a "100 percent" chance, barring unforseen circumstances, that she will be with a large New York agency within a year.

Evans, however, is quick to point out that modeling was not the reason that she decided to give up tennis. "I'm tired of the time that tennis takes up," she said, citing here thesis takes up," she said citing her thesis as another consideration.

She added. "I just wasn't enjoying it."

Evans also admitted that a preseason loss to a teammate contributed to the decision. "I walked off the court and said I don't want to play anymore."

Both Usher and Harvard Captain Debbi. Kaufman said yesterday however, that the squad is not bitter at Evans hasty departure.

"I felt like I let them down a little." Evans said, but Usher disagreed. "I don't look at it as a loss for us-it's a good decision for Elizabeth," he said.

"Everyone's happy for her," Kaufman added.

Further, Evans said she felt she could nor entirely devote herself to tennis this season, saying. "I don't want to do it if I can't be great.

Those who witnessed her rise to the top of collegiate tennis understand why Ysher said. "She wants the best out of herself, and at times she can't give it.

"It's a good decision for Elizabeth." He continued. Citing her other commitments and the difficulties that they would cause her tennis career. Usher said. "It's tough to give less than your best and be comfortable with it."

"One day I just got up enough courage to say, "I don't want to plus anymore." Evans said. "It was a sign of relief."

But the Psychology and Social Relations major says she believes she still may have a future in tennis. "If I wanted to play tennis I could," she said.

Usher, who works with professional players, heartily agrees. "If she busts her butt, she could be in the top 10 in the world." Be said. However, he said that shed be frustrated coming back after a long layoff and he "[doesn't] think she can do it."

Another problem facing Evans future tennis career could be her weight, which has dropped significantly since she started modelling.

"I've never been as thin as I am and played tennis," she said, and I might he too weak."

Whether or not she plays tennis in the future may also depend largely on how stable she finds modelling.

She quickly added, however, that "I'm getting too old for either," Yet Evans a daring player on the court says she's "willing to take chances" in her personal life as well."

She cites the past fulfillment of personal tennis goals as the key reason in her quest for new challenges. Usher concurred. "She was the best player in the East, 15th best in the nation. She set out to be an All-American and she achieved it," he said.

So for now, Elizabeth Evans, perhaps one of the top five collegiate tennis players in the nation, is completely through with tennis.

And with new challenges to face Evans says she will no doubt relish the opportunity to tackle and conquer fresh, new goals. As Tarsitano put it. "Being a risk-taker helps."