A talented Yale squad whitewashed the Harvard women's tennis team yesterday at Soldier's Field. the Elis dropping just one set en route to a 9-0 win. Crimson sophomore Martha Roberts took the only set for the Harvard team.

A strong wind swirling through the Soldiers Field courts figured heavily in the outcome of many close matches. Freshman star Betsy Richmond, playing number one, lost her second match in college tennis, dropping a 6-4, 6-1 battle to Natalya Smith, a top-ranked player. Richmond said after the match that Smith took better advantage of the wind, never losing her serve with the wind at her back.

Despite the lopsided score. Crimson coach Peter Felske said he was satisfied with his team's play. "We have a much stronger team than we had last year," Felske said. "We've played a better match this year; last year it was all bagels and breadsticks. A number of the singles matches could have gone our way, except for some bad luck."

Tight Squeeze

The second singles match featured Martha Roberts and Yale's Kathy Dalton in the closest contest of the afternoon. Roberts took the first set easily, 6-3, playing very relaxed tennis. Dalton came back to take the second set, 7-6, grabbing the tiebreaker, 5-4, after Roberts failed to convert three match points. Using her new momentum, Dalton weny on to sweep the final set, 6-3.

In other close matches, number four Abby Meiselman stretched Celia Moffie to a 6-4, 6-3 battle, while Leslie Miller, in the sixth spot went as far as she could without winning, taking Caroline McAllister to a tiebreaker in the first set before dropping the match, 7-6, 6-4.

Stronger Every Day

Sophomore Libby Pierpoint, who teamed with senior Sally Roberts at second doubles, said the match was much closer than the final score indicated. "We came to this match psyched, especially since we lost (to Yale) 9-0 last year. The closer matches are indicative of our immense improvement over the past year."

BUSTED GUT: Felske said yesterday he is considering entering Richmond and Martha Roberts in some post-season tournament play, but the Crimson coach added the final decision will depend on how the players feel and how their examination schedules shape up.