The Wildcat women’s tennis team won their first home match of the season on March 1 against the University of Puget Sound Loggers, 8-1.

This was their third conference match of the season, and was a much-needed moral boost after both of last weekend’s away match losses to Whitman College and Whitworth University.

Linfield Wildcats started out the match with a solid lead against the Puget Sound Loggers. Senior Caroline Brigham, junior Kaila Nip, and freshman Marisa Kume won all of their matches in the singles competition. Junior Kelly Watanabe and freshman Mackenzie Fraser also won matches in the singles competition.

Going into the doubles competition with an already strong lead from singles, Linfield continued to hold control over Puget Sound in all three doubles matches.

Wildcat coach Lisa Macy-Baker, who was very much looking forward to the team’s match against Puget Sound, feels particularly proud of the team’s winning performance.

“It feels good to be home,” Macy-Baker said. “UPS is a very competitive team top to bottom this year.”

Macy-Baker is correct, though Puget Sound is ranked 15 regionally and Linfield is ranked above them at 11, the Loggers had two good results this season prior to playing at Linfield on Saturday. The Wildcats embraced the challenge of taking on the Puget Sound Loggers and ultimately rose to their full potential as victors.

The women’s tennis team’s next match will be against California Institute of Technology at 4 p.m. on March 7 in Indian Wells, Calif.