Netwomen Blank Red, Edge Out Eagles, 5-3

One day, two matches, two wins.

Cornell was the preliminary fight, while B.C., the third-ranked team in the east, was the main event, But like Mike Tyson, the Harvard women's tennis team recorded knockouts.

Harvard (14-11 overall, 5-1 Ivy) recorded a 9-0 victory over Cornell Saturday morning at Beren Tennis Center, then proceeded to defeat B.C., 5-3, that afternoon in an emotionally-charged match.

How strong is the B.C. team? Its number-six player, Michelle Chau, was playing at number two last year. The Eagles also have beaten Yale, 8-1, while the Eli upset Harvard, 5-4.

"The B.C. match was really important to us as a team--more than rankings," Harvard Co-Captain Kathy Mulvehal said. "We lost to Yale, a match we shouldn't have lost, and B.C. killed Yale. We really wanted to win this match to redeem ourselves."

In singles action, junior Christian Dragomirescu improved her singles record to 29-13 on the season with a straight-set decision over Jennifer Lane. Dragomirescu capitalized on Lane's errors, and used a solid ground stroke game to crush Lane, 6-1, 6-2.

Sophomore Jamie Henikoff, who hadn't played singles since the Yale match two weeks ago, returned with flying colors. The match was never really in question, as Henikoff capitalized on strong overhead smashes and wraparound forehand shots for an easy 6-4, 6-2 victory over Christine Wood.

At second singles, Amy deLone lost a close 6-4, 6-4, decision to Pam Piorkowski, while freshman Jennifer Minkus dropped her match 7-6, 6-1, at sixth singles to Chua.

After giving Regine Fagan a one-set head start, Mulvehal played flawless tennis, winning the final two sets, 6-1, 6-0. Mulvehal's passing shots fell just inside the line, and Fagan was left staring at the spots where the ball landed Mulvehal improved her singles match record to 20-12 on the season.

After winning the first set, 6-3, Jacki Farrell lost the second in a tiebreaker to Berit Hanna to even the match.

Farrell went up, 4-2, with a break in the third on a topspin-volley winner, but Hanna bounced back to take a 5-4 advantage.

The senior evened things up at 5-5 with two sharply angled crosscourt shots and two forehand winners.

Farrell went up, 6-5, when Hanna's shot sailed long. Farrell then held serve at love to give the Crimson a 4-2 lead heading into the doubles matches.

Just One

With Farrell's win, the Crimson needed just one more victory to clinch the match.

B.C. cut its deficit to 4-3, with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at first doubles.

Farrell and Minkus stormed to a 6-0 win in the first set at third doubles. The duo played a great game at the net--displaying some rapid-fire volleys.

In the second set, Farrell and Minkus went up, 2-1, then increased its lead to 5-2. Serving for the victory, Minkus nailed an ace, and Farrell and Minkus both scored volley winners to go up, 40-15. On match point, Minkus hit another ace to give the Crimson the win.

"We wanted to start off really quickly and take an early lead," Farrell said. "Jen served really well. We got a lot of easy volleys off her tough serves."

Farrell and Minkus improved their doubles mark to 12-3.

Big Sad Red

The Cornell match was nothing more than a tune-up. Harvard won all nine matches in straight sets. The Crimson played with businesslike efficiency, piling up victory after victory.

Senior Sharon Kosakowski, who played well last week in a match against Dartmouth, clinched the fifth victory for the Crimson in her second varsity match.

Kosakowski, who played number one for the JV team this year, captured a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Gina Johnson at sixth singles.

Harvard will play its last match of the season Wednesday against Princeton (5-1 Ivy) at Beren Tennis Center. The winner will share the Ivy title with Yale.

"The Princeton match is very important," Mulvehal said. "It'll determine whether we are tied for the Ivy championship or third place. We know we can't win it outright, but at least we can share it."