Racquetwomen Crush Lions, 7-2

A lot of sun.

Warm temperatures.

A win.

What else could any athletic team ask for?

Maybe some courtesy from the other team.

The Harvard women's tennis team received almost all of the above yesterday afternoon when the squad handily dispatched an overmatched Columbia team at the Beren Tennis Center, 7-2.

The outcome of this match was never in doubt as the Crimson (6-8 overall, 1-0 Ivy) dominated Columbia on almost every court, sweeping the Lions in five out of its seven victories.

Of course, you wouldn't have guessed that by watching the Columbia players.

The Lions may not have been very talented, but they sure acted like they were.

In almost every match, one could see a Columbia player yelling, screaming and banging her racket on the court.

Just like John McEnroe.

Except McEnroe is good.

Harvard freshman Erika DeLone gave Columbia a taste of good tennis. The sixth-ranked player in the country blew by senior Janette Kizer, 6-2, 6-0.

In fact, the biggest problem for DeLone was playing on Kizer's level.

"It's difficult to play against players who aren't as tough as some others," DeLone said. "Sometimes I have trouble getting up for every point in matches like this."

And the winners were...

Joining DeLone with singles victories were teammates Eliza Parker and Agata Passent and co-captain Melinda Wang.

Wang, who was playing in the sixth spot, won her first singles match since last October. She had been out studying for graduate school entrance exams.

Parker and Passent both won straight set victories playing in higher spots than usual, due to the absense of Erika Elmuts (out for the day with quad pull.)

Parker rallied from 1-4 in the first set to win her match 6-4,6-3.

Parker and Passent teamed up in the most competitive match of the day against Columbia's number two doubles, pair.

Harvard began the match slowly winning the first set in a tie-breaker (7-3) and dropping the second set to the Lions, 4-6.

"It took us a little while to get our rythm going," Parker said. "We had a concentration lapse in the second."

The pair improved their play in the third, winning handily, 6-1.

"We played like we should have in the third set," Parker said.

NOTEBOOK: Harvard will take on a tougher opponent today when Pennsylvania comes to Cambridge Doubles matches start at 2 p.m.

The Harvard tennis will be holding a Pro-Am and Clinic at the Beren Tennis Center on May 3, 1992.

The winner of the Pro-Am event will win a five-day, four night trip to Negril, Jamaica. Both the clinic and the Pro-Am are open to the general public.

For more information call 496-2460. HARVARD, 7-2 at Beren Tennis Center

Singles

1.DeLone (Harvard) def. Kizer (Columbia), 6-2,6-0;.Chulock (C) def. Cooper (H), 3-6, 7-5, 6-4;3.Parker (H) def. Smith (C), 6-3, 6-4; 4.Passent (H) def. Majmudar (C),6-3, 6-4; 5.Tarpley (C) def. Clemente(c),6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

Doubles

1.DeLone/Cooper (H) def. Kizer/Smit (C), -1 6-1; 2.Parker/Passent (H) def. Chulock/Johston (C), 7-6, 4-6, 6-1; 3.McNabb/Pollack (H) def. Clemente/Tarpley (C), 6-3, 6-4.