With two of its teams placed among the top five college debating teams in the nation, Harvard's Debating Club is hoping its strong performance of this season will win the National Debating Tournament title in April.

"One team from Harvard has been in the nationals every year since the 1950s, but this is the finest that our two top teams have done any year in recent memory," Michael B. King '79, president of the club, said yesterday.

Out of nine invitational competitions in which the Harvard teams have competed, they have taken first place in six, second place in two, and third place in one.

Greg A. Rosenbaum '74 and Charles E. Garvin '74, both of whom captured the national title for Harvard while seniors, are coaching the club this year.

"I don't want to make the National Tournament the be-all and end-all of the season, because we've done so well that a loss in the nationals wouldn't make this year a loss," Rosenbaum said. "Still, I have to admit I'd be overjoyed if we took it."

Rosenbaum said that fine performances within the freshman and sophomore teams have aided the whole club's success.

"Having two nationally competitive teams gives us an added advantage, because when one falters, the other picks up the slack," Rosenbaum added.

Sandra Seville-Jones '82, a member of one of the top teams, said she agreed with Rosenbaum that unity and cooperation are factors in the club's success.

"Girls don't usually play a big role in debate," Seville-Jones said. "I think Harvard is unique among the currently successful college debating teams in that it has two girls on its teams."