The tennis team lost its match against Navy yesterday, 5-4, and with it all hopes of tying for first place in the EITA.

Navy took three of the top four singles to gain a three-three split going into the doubles. Doubles victories at one and three gave the match to the Midshipmen.

Harvard had the edge in depth in singles as both Tom Loring and Peter Briggs won in straight sets at five and six. Joe Cavanagh at number two was once again invincible in the clutch. After losing a 5-4 tie-breaker in the second set, he held on to beat sophomore Ted Turnblacer, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4.

Bill Washaner lost at first singles to Craig Dawson, 6-2, 6-4. Gordon Perry and Bob Custer, who played one and two last year, gave the Midshipmen the strength at three and four they needed to win. Perry beat Randy Barnett, 7-5, 6-4, and Custer survived a surprise attack by Bill Brock to win in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In first doubles Washauer and Cavanagh lost a 5-4 tie-breaker in the first set to Perry and Turnblacer and then fell apart, 7-6, 6-0. Loring and Barnett kept the Crimson in the match with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 win at second doubles. They took the third set tie-breaker, 5-3, to upset the previously undefeated team of Dawson and Jim Bristow.

Briggs and Dave Fish-playing his first match since Princeton-fell to Custer and Vincent LaCava at third doubles, 6-4, 6-4.

Navy, now 15-2 on the season and 6-1 in the League, will tie for first place if it can beat Princeton.

Commenting on his team's sudden success, second-year coach Robert Bayliss said, "It's the first year with the players that I recruited."

Harvard travels to Williams this weekend for the New England Inter-scholastics. Since only one Harvard player has lost in New England competition, the Crimson are heavy favorites to win.