Netmen Down Army

Harvard Men's Tennis Coach Dave Fish summed up yesterday's match at Army in seven words: "Quick match, lots of fun, no challenge."

But he just as easily could have summed it up in one--domination.

Indeed, that one word sums up the entire Eastern Athletic Tennis Association (EITA) season to date for the Crimson (13.3 overall, 6-0 EITA).

The netmen had a combined 38.7 EITA match record going into yesterday's match at West Point, N.Y., and bettered it by trouncing the Cadets, 9-0.

Co-Captain Larry Scott continued his line play at first singles, overwhelming Black Knight Ted Wilson, 6-0, 6-4.

The four games Wilson won in the second set marked the first games Scott had allowed an opponent in the past two matches.

Fellow Co-Captain Dave Beckman won an easy match at second singles, 6-2, 6-2. The second position was an unfamiliar one for Beckman, who has played third singles all year.

The regular number two player. Bill Stanley, cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win at number three.

Fish decided last weekend to start alternating his number two and three players in order to allow Beckman a chance to gain national exposure.

Four players are chosen from the East Coast to compete in the NCAA national individual tournament, and Fish feels that all three of his top players have a legitimate shot at snagging slots. Beckman's play at second singles should give him an opportunity to gain the attention necessary to receive a bid.

Peter Palandjian, Arkie Engle and Palandjian rounded out the Crimson's 6-0 sleep of the singles competition yesterday.

Beckman and Paul Palandjian continued the visitor's domination into the doubles matches by taking a 7-5, 6-4 victory at first doubles. The random normally plays second or third doubles, but was moved up yesterday to allow Scott a half-day off.

Scott's usual partner, Engle, grabbed a win at third doubles with Keith Collar, normally a junior varsity player.

Peter Palandjian and Scott rounded out Harvard's domination with an easy victory at the number two spot.

The Crimson's shut-out was the third it has ground out in its past six matches. Two other opponents have managed to secure only a single match.

Ironically, Army's fellow service academy. Navy, played the netmen closer than any other EITA opponent when the Midshipmen lost a respectable 6-3 decision earlier this month.

Harvard plays at Cornell this afternoon before heading home for the start of reading period. Its final two regular season matches will be at Dartmouth (April 30), and at Princeton (May 8).

The Tigers seem to be the only team in the EITA that has a chance to compete with the Crimson this year. The teams year-end showdown will probably determine whether the netmen snag their fourth league crown in the past five years.