That's not to say the team isn't mentally up for the clash. The lineups have rowed together only since Wednesday, and the pieces sparkle with the enthusiasm that comes from working with new-found friends.

"We're all very excited about the boat--a new Schoenbrod especially for women--and about being together, and that has to be an advantage," Huntsman said.

The first boat boasts four returnees from last year's Eastern Sprints champion eight. Powerhouse junior Nancy Kerrebrock moves up to the stroke seat, senior co-captains Mizzy Stokes and Jane Roy sit six and bow, respectively, and three-year veteran Karen Messer occupies the three-seat. Susie Peterson continues her duties in the coxswain's chair.

Kristen Laine, returning from a leave of absence, will follow Kerrebrock, while Ann Pawlowsky, who took her freshman year off from crew after stroking the Andover eight as a senior, makes a comeback to rowing in the four-seat. Sophomores Cindy Cohen at five and Kathy Kirk at two, both up from last year's J.V., round out the lineup.

"It's a very strong boat," Huntsman said, adding, "The big question is how well they will fit together--the styles of the people in the boat are a lot less blendable than last year."

Radcliffed nosed out B.U. in the regular season and in the Sprints last year by less than a second each time, but sickness and graduation fever caught up with the two evenly-matched crews at the Nationals in June when the Terriers came back to take second place to Radcliffe's fourth.

Next weekend, Radcliffe will go against an MIT crew of unproven quality.

The oarswomen will then travel to Hanover April 22 to take on the Big Green of Dartmouth, a late-blooming crew which is not even on the water yet.

After a weekend off, the lights square off against Williams, another question-mark crew which performed inconsistently last year.

Huntsman and his crew are looking to the Eastern Sprints in Pittsfield May 14 as the key to a season that might culminate in another shot at the Nationals. The Terriers of B.U. loom once again as the team to beat.

"But I wanted to race them early in the season--just to know where we stand," Huntsman grinned.