Linfield tennis had a full weekend competing against three conference teams which had some successful individual performances.
Linfield hosted and competed against the University of Puget Sound on April 4, Pacific University on April 5, and Willamette University on April 6.
“This weekend was a lot more difficult than last weekend because we were battling three straight days against conference opponents which is always very competitive,” junior Lukas Kleinman said. “Everyone was able to keep fighting despite the fatigue that comes from three straight days full of matches.”
Despite dropping a 6-3 decision to the Puget Sound Loggers Friday afternoon at home, Linfield Wildcats earned a pair of singles wins and one doubles victory.
In singles, at No. 5, freshman Alec Wisthoff, earned his first singles victory of the season, with 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. Kleinman downed Puget Sound’s No. 3 singles player, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Sophomore Tim Hawkins, at No. 4, went in to a third sent against his Puget Sound opponent but the Loggers won the point, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
Linfield had two more close victories. Junior Micah Roos lost a narrow decision to the No. 1 Puget Sound singles player, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. At. No. 2 freshman Kelsey Rosborough lost, 6-4, 7-5 and at. No. 6 singles sophomore Nick Konen lost 6-1, 6-1.
At No. 1 Kleinman and Rosborough won their second straight doubles match with an 8-5 win. Puget Sound squeaked out an 8-6 win over Roos and Hawkins at No. 2 doubles. At No. 3 doubles, Puget Sound beat Wisthoff and Konen 8-3.
Pacific won all the matchups over the Wildcats, coming out with a 9-0 victory, on Saturday April 5.
“Saturday was a really rough day for the team, we played one of the top teams in the conference and unfortunately nobody won but we showed a lot of grit and toughness by not giving up despite being over matched,” Kleinman said.
The most competitive singles match came from Rosborough who was edged by Pacific’s No. 2, 4-6, 6-1, 10-6. The remainder of the singles matches were decided in straight sets.
At No. 2 Roos and Hawkins had the closest doubles match loosing only 9-7 to Pacific. Kleinman and Rosborough lost to Pacific’s No. 1 doubles, 8-6.
“We knew Pacific was going to be a tough team to compete with. We just put that match away and tried to focus as much as we could on today’s [Willamette] match,” Wisthoff said. “I know I can’t wait to play Pacific again, because the serves they hit are jaw dropping.”
The Wildcats closed the weekend with a loss to Willamette, 8-1, Sunday afternoon.
The lone victory for Linfield came from No. 1 doubles partners, Rosborough and Kleinman. The No. 1 doubles partners were originally down 4-7 and managed to win five straight games.
“Hopefully our comeback will inspire the rest of the team and show them that even when your back is against the wall and your not playing well, you can still comeback, turn it around, and get a victory,” Kleinman said.
Rachael Gernhart/Staff Writer
