Women's Tennis

They're unstoppable.

Continuing their dominance in the East Coast tennis world. Harvard's women's tennis team this weekend overcame injuries and fall colds to beat the University of Virginia and William and Mary, assuring themselves an excellent chance at an NCAA berth.

Led by unbeaten junior Elizabeth Evans the Crimson had only minor trouble polishing off UVa on Saturday, 6-3, then picked up the momentum on Sunday to beat William and Mary, 7-2.

Things looked bleak for the netwomen early in the week, with number-two player Erika Smith still on crutches after two weeks with fluid on the knee, and Captain Debbie Kaufman having retired her crutches just last Thursday.

Healthy Bodies

"We went down to Williamsburg with five healthy bodies and a lot of question marks," said Coach Don Usher.

The questions were answered in the affirmative Harvard is tough.

Evans, who has yet to encounter any serious challenge to her number-one Eastern ranking, handily defeated UVa's nationally ranked finest, Marian Gengler, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Against William and Mary, Evans faltered a bit in the second set but held out for the 6-1, 7-5 win.

Freshmen Robin Boss and Kathy Vigna each move 1 up one spot from their usual seeds, playing in the second and third positions, respectively. Both won a pair of matches, never allowing their opponents more than three games.

Brickmanship

Number-five player Robeita Hing won the hardest fought match of the weekend against her Cavalier foe, losing the first set by a 6-2 count, but gaining her momentum to turn the tables in the second, 6-3. The third set, a 7-5 cliffhanger, was full of games that went to the 3-3 brink, a product of the no-ad rule in collegiate tennis.

The doubles teams, thrown off balance by the loss of Smith, went 1-2 against UVa with Kaufman teaming up with Vigna for the first time in the second spot Confident and back on the track on Sunday, all three pairs beat William and Mary.