Courtmen Defeat Big Red, Cadets

Harvard's fast-improving tennis team moved two steps closer to a share of the EITA title last weekend with easy home victories over both Cornell and Army. But the squad faces perhaps its last serious challenge for that title today at Annapolis in an improved Navy squad.

Only captain Bob Cowin, John Bunker, and John O'Brien return from a Middies squad which fell to the Crimson 6-3 a year ago. Although Navy has lost only to Penn in 12 matches, Harvard's superior depth should produce its seventh straight victory.

Individual Troubles

In individual match-ups, however, Crimson captain John Levin could run into trouble with Cowin at the number one singles spot this season. Cowin beat Levin in straight sets last year on the Harvard courts and ranked ahead of him in EITA seedings.

Superior conditioning usually gives a service team an edge, but if Harvard's performance last weekend against previously undefeated Army is an indication, the Middies shouldn't count on that advantage. Levin, Rocky Jarvis, and Terry Oxford won their first three singles matches in straight sets, with Levin downing the Cadet's undefeated Bill Malkemes at number one.

Second Doubles

Bill Washauer and Chris Nielson both won three-set matches at five and six, and the Oxford-Larry Terrell combination won at second doubles to wrap up the 6-3 triumph and hand Army its first loss in eight matches.

Last Friday, the Crimson dealt Cornell its third loss is four matches, 7-2 winning all seven matches in straight sets. The two defeats were at second and third doubles, where coach Jack Barnaby had substituted reserves.