After a one-year absence from the top spot in the Ivy League, the Harvard men's tennis team earned a share of first place with a 4-3 victory over Dartmouth yesterday afternoon.

The Crimson (14-8, 6-1 Ivy) will share the league title with Columbia, but since Harvard defeated the Lions, 4-3, in head-to-head competition earlier this spring, the Crimson earns the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, which begins May 12.

The Crimson has had a long tradition of Ivy dominance, this being its 16th title since 1980.

The Big Green (8-10, 0-7), although winless in the Ivy League, only fell 4-3 to co-champ Columbia earlier this year and presented a tough match for the Crimson.

The No. 1 doubles team of co-captain Anthony Barker and freshman George Turner fell 2-8 in the first doubles match to Jeff Sloves and James Dinkmeyer of the Big Green.

Junior Dalibor Snyder and freshman Chris Chiou pulled even with an 8-3 win at the No. 3 doubles spot.

The crucial doubles point was left in the hands of junior William Lee and freshman Mark Riddell playing at No. 2 doubles. The pair pulled out the victory in a tiebreak 9-8 (4) and the Crimson took the early 1-0 lead in the match.

Riddell then turned around and made quick work of fellow freshman Jesse Paer with a 6-2, 6-4 win at the No. 5 singles spot.