Spring Break in California, compliments of the Harvard Athletic Department.

All you need is a tennis racket.

And the skill to play on Harvard women's tennis team, the best squad in the East. A first place ECAC finish and victories over nationally ranked Florida State and Texas University placed the Crimson in the top 20 in the nation in the preseason polls.

"We'd like to do well on the spring trip," says Coach Don Usher. "It is one of the more challenging stretches in our schedule."

Since early February, practice has taken a back seat to senior theses and midterms and the netwomen may be rusty. But the caliber of competition Harvard will face the trip should provide plenty of incentive to play well.

After a warm-up match against University of the Pacific, the Crimson will take on sixth-ranked University of California at Berkley.

The Best of the East will take on the Best of the West--and the best of the nation--in the third match of the trip. Top-ranked Stanford stymied the Crimson in the '85 NCAAs, and the Crimson is looking for revenge.

But though a victory over Stanford would be rewarding, the team's goal for the season is to grab the top spot in the East and reach the NCAAs.

The depth and talent of the squad make this desire a definite possibility. Kathy Vigna, mirroring the team's ranking of number one in the East and number 20 in the nation, plays in the number one slot for Harvard. The second spot belongs to freshman sensation Cindy Buchsbaum. The Tucson, Ariz., native is ranked third in the East after her excellent fall performance.

"We are the deepest and most talented team in the country," Usher says. "We are great all the way down the line. Other teams may have better players at the top, but no one compares player to player."

National Ranking

Harvard's number seven player Kristin Bland boasts a national ranking of 47 and number nine Kathy Mulvehal came out on top in the New England Singles Championship.

The doubles pair of Erika Smith and Vigna claim the third slot in the national ranking for doubles, followed by teammates Robin Boss and Ellen Berkman at fourth. Both pairs reached the regional semi-finals last-year.

The team is so ladden with talent that Captain Roberta Hing has not captured a starting spot. Usher says that Hing still will be instrumental to victory as her high spirits keep the team together and she keeps the fun in the game.

Usher says that the team has only one weakness--scheduling. Harvard's most challenging matches follow closely on the heels of midterms, and the NCAAs were held in the middle of finals last year.

A free vacation in California, compliments of the Harvard Athletic Department.

If you're good enough to be on one of the best women's tennis teams in the country.