Everyone in the crowded bleachers expected a close match. The players and coaches also foresaw a battle. The winner of the contest would be declared the national champion.

Many members of the Harvard and Princeton men's squash teams had confronted one another before. When the teams were introduced at Hemenway Gym Saturday afternoon, there was tension in the air and determination in every eye.

"This is a revenge match," Harvard's David Segal said of the many rematches of last year's contest.

Crimson Co-Captain Jim Lubowitz would face Tiger Luke Evnin, who defeated many of the players Lubowitz has lost to this year.

Harvard's Peter Dinneen would face Bill Ullman, who topped the Crimson junior in five games last year.

Segal would be up against Don Coons. The two had also played a year ago, with Coons coming out on top.

Harvard freshman Joe Dowling and Keen Butcher of Princeton were teammates at Choate last year. Butcher played number one. "Keen was much better than I was," said Dowling.

It looked like it would be a long day of fierce competition and close scores.

But the Crimson walloped a stunned Tiger squad, 8-1, to take the Intercollegiate Squash Racquet Association Nine-Man Championship, which goes to the college team with the best season record.

A shell-shocked Princeton Coach Bob Callaghan credited the Crimson with playing "at the very top of their potential." "On paper, we are as strong as they are," he said. "They just outplayed us."

The Tigers lost three one-point games in the day's very first matches, turning the momentum in Harvard's favor and making a big difference in the rest of the match.

Harvard Coach Dave Fish agreed. "Princeton is very tough. The points went our way today....it made all the difference in the world," he said.

Fish emphasized that the match was by no means a runaway, but once Harvard won the contest with their fifth match victory, the Princeton players lost their incentive. "You lose something when you hear it's over," the Crimson mentor said.

Still, he credited the team with "their best outing of the year," as they ran their dual match record to 9-0.

The Harvard squad played strong up and down the lineup. At number two, David Boyum returned to action after being out for two months with a fractured wrist. Although he claimed he was not hitting the ball crisply and accurately, he combined power and finessse to top Tom Shepherd, 3-1.