Harvard's poised and confident tennis team held off a rising Pennsylvania challenge during the singles matches and cleaned up it's guests in the doubles yesterday afternoon to roll to a 7-2 triumph; setting up a showdown next Saturday with Princeton for the EITA title.

The victory, which required almost six hours to achieve. extended the Crimson's Northern winning streak to 15 over two years, virtually clinched Harvard second place in the EITA race. and suitably avenged last year's shocking 5-4 defeat at Philadelphia.

But for an anxious hour yesterday afternoon, it seemed as though Harvard was headed for serious trouble. After juniors Chris Nielsen. Joc Cavanagh and Bill Brock had swept to easy singles triumphs at three, four and five. Penusophomore John Adams rallied to break Bill Washauer's service in the 14th game of their first set at number one and on to win 9-7. Then. frustrating the powerful Washauer with an exhaustive volley strategy. he took the second set as well. 6-2, to add to a swelling Quaker rally.

On another court, Penn's Chad Hazam was beating Harvard captain Butch. Kawakami decisively at number six, and Quaker captain Hugh Curry had already whipped sophomore Dave Fish in straight sets, 6-2. 6-1at number two for Penn's first match point.

The pivotal match seemed to be Kawakami's. since Harvard appeared to be slight underdogs in the doubles. and Hazam, who had lost only one match in six years, was playing a tedious backcourt game in an effort to force his opponent into a mistake.

But Kawakami rebounded from a 6-2 loss in the first set to take the second one 6-4, and with his legs cramping badly, edged Hazam by the same score in the third to provide the Crimson with a vital fourth point.

Darkness Brightened

After that, the situation became surprisingly easier. Washauer and Nielsen took a quick 6-4 set from Adams and George Rork at first doubles, and after all three doubles contests were moved inside because of darkness. swept the second set as well. 6-4, 6-3,

Moments earlier, Cavanagh. who whipped Rork at fourth singles, 6-4, and Fish had disposed of Curry and Charlie Moore at second doubles, 6-2, 6-1 to clinch the match.

At third doubles, Kawakami and sophomore Rick Devereux rallied from a 6-4 loss in the first set to overcome Hazam and Steve Strasser 12-10, 6-4, for Harvard's seventh point.

Brock Upsets

Almost overlooked in the ??umph, however. was junior Bill Brock's surprising 6-4, 6-4 upset of Penn's Eliot Berry at fifth singles. Berry, unbeaten in his last ten matches, had played ahead of Brooke for four years at Choate, and wasta decided favorite to defeat him today.

Harvard's victory, its third in the EITA this spring, assures the Crimson of at least a second place finish provided it does not lose to anyone weaker than the Quakers. Only two squads-an Ariny team stocked with veterans and rapidly-nlproving Columbia-have any sort of realistic chance of upsetting Harvard at this point. but Princeton, unbeaten and incredibly powerful at the top two p?? will be laugh to handle