Notre Dame juniors Javier Taborga and Aaron Talarico, ranked 19th in the country, defeated Harvard’s No. 1 doubles team of freshman George Turner and Barker, 8-1.

But Harvard would even the doubles score at one apiece when freshman Mark Riddell, and junior William Lee won 8-4 at No. 2 doubles.

The deciding match was in the hands of junior Dalibor Snyder and freshman Chris Chiou. After falling behind on an early break, Snyder and Chiou rallied to pull within two games, down 6-4. But the pair could not break back, and ultimately fell, 8-5.

The Crimson now needed to capture four of the six singles matches to win the match.

“The doubles point is important, but we’ve won matches before without winning it,” Barker said.

Singles play began rough for the Crimson as well, as it dropped the first set in four of its six matches.

Lee, playing at No. 1 singles, and sophomore Oli Choo, playing at No. 3 singles, each won their first set, 6-4.