Close But No Cigar

Depending on which version of the old joke you've heard, close only counts in horseshoes, hand-grenades or MX missiles.

But one place where close definitely doesn't count is in the world of women's squash.

The Harvard women's squash team finished with a 4-1 Ivy League--close to the top, but not close enough, as the 5-0 Yale Bulldogs walked away with the league crown.

The racquetwomen are looking to improve on their second-place finish, but they will have to dethrone archrival Yale in the process.

"Things look very good for us," Harvard Co-Captain Diana Edge said. "Last year we finished second in the Ivies, but we have most of that team returning this year. And we have a strong freshman group this year. We have a pretty good chance to win the Ivies."

Harvard and Yale are the early-season favorites to win this year's crown. Since the Ivy championship was established in 1983, both squads have won the title twice.

But Harvard would like to break that tie, against Yale or any other team that stands in its way.

Since 1983, the Crimson has posted a 17-3 Ivy League record and an overall 26-3 record, tops in the Ivies.

"The outlook is good," Harvard assistant Coach Jack Barnaby said. "We have a strong squad returning. The key for us is to stay healthy. If we can avoid injuries, I think we could be the team to unseed Yale."

The racquetwomen lost only two seniors last year, but the squad will feature a young line-up, with four freshmen and a new coach.

"The freshmen are getting some vital experienceearly in the year, which will be very helpful inthose tough matches down the road," Edge said. "Aslong as we don't have any injuries, we have thepotential to win it all."

"I think this team is going to be stronger thanlast year's," Barnaby said. "Most of what we havegained is more than we lost. The freshmen arebetter than average, but they have a lot to learn.We have high hopes."

"We have our top two players returning, andthey are doing a wonderful job as captains andleaders," first-year Harvard Coach Steve Piltchsaid.

After serving as the men's squash assiatantcoach, Piltch was named the head coach of thewomen's team this year.

"We're optimistic. We will be in every match.Time will tell if we will be contending in Ivies,"Piltch said. "We may not be as strong now,compared to this time last year, but we'reoptimistic, by the end of the season, that thisteam will be stronger.