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Tennis Squads Trounce Tigers, Head for NCAAs

Women Rally, 7-2

"They fought, they fought hard, but they only had two girls who could compete with us," said Harvard women's tennis Coach Don Usher.

Princeton found out the hard way, as every team in the East has, that two players aren't enough to beat Harvard a team of overwhelming depth.

After falling behind 20, the Crimson (15-3 overall, 60 Ivies) roared back to trounce the Tigers, 7-2, Wednesday at Beren Courts. The victory was the coup de grace of Harvard's second straight undefeated Ivy League season and third consecutive championship.

Moreover, Harvard, ranked 19th in the nation is now the two-time defending Eastern Champions.

"We just have too much depth for everyone," Usher said, "and we will next year, too."

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Usher has presided other a humor recruiting year that has yielded some nationally ranked players, making Harvard's Ivy domination smell of dynasty.

Princeton, however, stormed into Cambridge Wednesday prepared to dispel all such rumors.

The seventh-ranked player in the nation and the Crimson's ace, Elizabeth Evans, was the victim of a stunning 7-6, 7-5 upset at the hands of Emily Schuette, while Hillary Shane slammed Harvard's number two, Erika Smith, 6-3, 6-4.

"It was disappointing to see Elizabeth lose her last Ivy League match," sophomore Kathy Vigna said

Evans, who garnered All-American and All-Ivy honors last year, has according to her coach, been overloaded by work.

"Elizabeth is taking five courses, and Erika had an all-or-nothing paper due the next day," Usher said. "They're just not hitting balls [in practice]."

Princeton's successes were immediately nullilied by the rest of Harvard's line-up.

"Every team has some good players," three-year Captain Debble Kaufman said, "but we're just better down the line."

Harvard's numbers three through six. Vigna, Robin Boss, Cyndy Austrian and Kaulman, waltzed through the remaining singles matches without losing a set.

Vigna (50-13 on the year), emerged with a 6-1, 6-4 win and Boss (49-14) eased to victory, 6-3, 6-3.

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