Last year, the men's tennis team finished 19th nationally, and the women's team finished in the top 40. Although both have lost several seniors, this year's squads show even more promise.

Rigorous practices have thus far proven effective; both teams have demonstrated their prowess in their respective divisions.

The men's team tore it up this weekend at the Yale Invitational and sent two players to the National Clay Court Championships in Baltimore, while the woman's team held their own at the Harvard Invitational.

Men Show Potential

Last year's team finished the season with a flourish, and this year's squad has already elicited enough excitement to raise team expectations.

"We have all the groundwork once again," Harvard coach David Fish said. "One of our primary goals at this point is to have another terrific year, to show that's it's a consistent standard."

This weekend's tournaments at Yale and at Baltimore served as evidence as to why the team should be regarded as one to be reckoned with, not only among its Ivy League competitors, but also among the top teams in the country.

At the Yale Invitational, a tournament comprised of four singles draws and two doubles draws, Harvard did not lose a match in the first day of play.

The men boarded the bus home having won three of the six draws and having reached the finals five times.

According to assistant coach Peter Mandeau, freshman Joe Green delivered the most outstanding performance of the tournament, capturing the B Singles championship against his Harvard counterpart, Brendon Bethea, 7-6, 6-7, 6-2.

"His performance in his first NCAA outing was even better than we anticipated," Mandeau said. "He found a way to win--that's what makes a really great competitor."

In the D Singles draw, junior Jose Hernandez-Ore had no problem disposing of his first two opponents, from Providence College and Boston College, respectively. In the semi-finals, against Kushal Malhotra from Brown, Hernandez-Ore faced his first test.

With his teammates either out on the courts or cheering on other Crimson players, Hernandez-Ore had little support while his competitor had a contingency at least fifteen strong behind its man.

"He [Hernandez-Ore] was out there pumping himself up," Mandeau said. "He was his own crowd."

Showing that his strength lies in overcoming adversity, Hernandez-Ore pulled out the match, winning in a third-set tiebreaker.