The varsity tennis team could hand Yale its worst defeat in years when the squads clash in New Haven today.

For the last three years, Eli squads led by the Howe brothers and Bob Hetherington have been among the top powers in Eastern tennis. Before that, Donald Dell, now a Davis Cupper, led the Ellis. Yale teams lost to Harvard during the span, but never did a Bulldog squad get beaten badly.

This year, though, the Yalles should get smashed.

Their number one player, Dennis Lynch, filled the number four position last year and barely defeated Harvard's Doug Waltes. One other letterman, Carry Parry, lost to Harvard's Sandy Walker at number six last year. He's now playing number two for Yale while Walker is eighth man on the Harvard squad.

Frank Ripley, Harvard's number one man, will be closing out a three-year varsity career today and should be able to overpower Lynch's retrieving game, Dave Benjamin, one of the best backcourt players in the Eastern League, should have too much for Farry. Clive Kileff, on a hot streak, took over the number three position last week, defeated his Navy opponent 6-0, 6-0 Saturday, and ought to win handily.

Chum Steele, an exceptionally strong number four player; Dean Peckham, who moved up to number five last week; and senior Bob Inman round out the Harvard six. A win today would close out the team's dual-meet record at 16-3-1.