Take a critical dual-match against an archrival, a bunch of supercooled squash courts, hordes of rude and hostile fans, mix it all together, and what do you get?

The Princeton-Harvard squash match at Jadwin Gymnasium in Princeton on Sunday.

In past years at Princeton, the courts have been blown with cold air before the match, a move to make it just a little harder for the Crimson players, who are accustomed to playing on warmer courts at Hemenway Gymnasium.

Last year, the Crimson recorded an 8-1 victory against the Tigers, in what Princeton Coach Betty Constable termed "the worst defeat ever for Princeton." She also called the 1987-88 Crimson sqaud "the best ever."

But many feel that this year's Princeton squad is even better.

Princeton is favored at the top with Demer Holleran, Mary Foulk and Hope MacKay, but the Crimson will counter with Tri-Captains Jenny Holleran and Sheila Morrisey and sophomore Stephanie Clark. Harvard's top three are capable of pulling out one or two of the matches. The rest of the line-up is a toss-up.

"It's going to be our toughest match this season," MacKay said. "We're nervous, but we're psyched for a challenge. Harvard has always been strong depth-wise--but this year--we've got a really strong team from one to nine. We can challenge them depth-wise this year."

"We're really looking forward to it," Harvard Coach Steve Piltch said. "Princeton is definitely strong. It'll be a fun match."

While January was a tough month for the Crimson, with injuries, exams and illness, the racquetwomen are looking forward to February and the return of Holleran, Grace Sheffield and Katherine Moffett, who took the semester off.

"Jenny makes a big difference," Piltch said. "She moves everyone else down a spot."

It's Good to be Queen

The Crimson will be the underdog Sunday for the first time since 1986.

"I think everyone is really excited because we have nothing to lose," junior Hope Nichols said. "They have a strong team. They're going to show us how far we've come and far we have to go. We're going in as the underdog, but anything can happen."

"Whether we win or lose we will have nothing to be ashamed of," Piltch said. "We're probably just a shade below where we were last year. Our players from one to five are interchangeable. It should be an exciting match."

The Ivy and national championship race has been painted virtually all Crimson in recent years. This year, Harvard, Princeton and Yale were the early season favorites to win this year's crown, with Princeton the number-one choice of the experts.