Even though captain Bill Washauer is graduating this year, the Harvard tennis team will be a strong EITA contender next year. The reason: this year's talented freshmen.

The Yardlings-who beat Andover, 8-1, yesterday to run their record to 5-1-have two players who could be among the top three on the varsity this year. Captain Harris Masterson and Ken Lindner, top-ranked juniors in the South and East, respectively, are numbers one and two in singles and form the first doubles team.

On Their Way Up

Masterson and Lindner won the New England Men's Indoor championships in doubles this winter. "They'll both be near the top of the varsity next year," freshman coach Corey Wynn said recently.

"This is one of the strongest teams I've ever coached," Wynn added. "At three and four Chris Klem and Kevin Bottomly are of the same calibre as Tom Loring." Loring, a sophomore, is one of the varsity's most consistent performers at fifth singles and third doubles.

Archie Gwathmey, Craig Thomas, and Gardner Rowbotham compete for the last two singles positions.

Princeton

The Yardlings' only loss came two weekends ago at Princeton, 5-4. As in the varsity match, the turning point came when the doubles matches were moved inside. "Playing on their own hard surface indoor courts, Princeton had a definite advantage," Wynn said.

Masterson and Lindner won at singles and doubles to maintain their undefeated records. Lindner, a former National paddletennis champion, has been playing tennis for only three years.

Wynn, who played under varsity coach Jack Barnaby as a Harvard undergraduate, has been the Crimson's freshman squash and tennis coach for 25 years. "I concentrate on the game fundamentals with the freshmen as Jack does with the varsity," he said recently.

Room for Improvement

"Even the best players need to improve their technique," Wynn added. "Masterson, for example, still has trouble volleying low shots. But mostly Jack and I stress tactics and percentage shots."

"In returning serves, a cross court is safer than a shot down the line," he said. "The net is lower in the center, and the margin for error is much greater."