Jake Peterson

For the Review

The women’s and men’s tennis teams put forth a dominating performance both at home and on the road last weekend, winning every contest counted.

On Feb. 29, the women’s tennis team found itself deadlocked in a catfight against league rival Lewis & Clark College in Portland.

The men play George Fox University March 8 in McMinnville. The game begins at 1 p.m.

The next women’s match is March 7 against Pacific Lutheran University. The game begins at 3:30 p.m. in Tacoma, Wash.

After Lewis & Clark took the first doubles match, Linfield rebounded with wins from both duo combinations of seniors Kelli Sides and Molly Nelson in the No. 2 match, and the freshmen tandem Sarah Watanabe and Sarah Click in the No. 3 competition. 

The Pioneers made things close in singles play, taking the No. 1, 2 and 3 matches.

However, Lewis & Clark didn’t have the depth to keep the ’Cats down. Nelson got the ’Cats back on track with her win in the No. 4 match, taking it 6-4, 6-4. Watanabe won a close No. 5 match 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, and Click secured the Wildcat victory, 5-4, with her No. 6 match win.

The following day, the women’s team dominated Pacific University at the Tualatin Hills Tennis Center in Beaverton, Ore., 7-0.

The match wasn’t even close as players such as freshman Sophie Larson, ranked No. 1, Nelson and Watanabe swept their opponents in two games. Two games remained unfinished as match time ran out.

These games were not counted in the final score. Sophomore Emma Becker and freshman Andrea Peterson were both trailing when the games were called.

The women’s team is now 6-3 overall, 6-0 in the Northwest Conference.  The team is ranked No. 6 in the region.

The men saw equal success in their competitions.

Last Friday, the ’Cats found themselves sweeping all but one singles match against Lewis & Clark in two games. The ’Cats won, 7-1.

The only match that went into the final game was No. 1 junior Nick Ruess battling back from a first game loss against Pioneer George Allen to win the match, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. The only loss of the day came from duo senior Wesley Gabrielsen and freshman Brent Kingzett in the No. 2 doubles match, 8-6.

The following day, the men shut out visiting Pacific University, 9-0.

The team successfully swept every singles match in two games and easily dominated the doubles matches.

The closest game of the day was played by No. 1 freshman Mark Magdaong who won 6-3, 6-2.

The men’s team is now 4-6 overall, 4-3 NWC. The men are currently ranked No. 13 in the region.