The Linfield Wildcats faced the University of Puget Sound at home on Sunday.

Linfield has been putting together different duos for doubles all season. They put together a victory and won 6-3. This was the first sunny match played outdoors in McMinnville of the season.

For doubles, top-flighted freshman Trent Prussing and senior Tim Hawkins struggled to return one of their opponent’s serves and struggled to cover the entire court. They ultimately went down, losing a hard fight 2-8.

In second doubles, coming off an injury sophomore Ben McNair paired with sophomore Liam Spearnak and won a tight battle in the beginning but pulled away with beautiful overheads and were at the top of their volley game, full of endurance with a victory of 8-4.

At third doubles, freshman duo Jacob Mangan and Carter Pentz started off a bit rocky, but found their groove and pulled away easily after the second break and won 8-1.

The Wildcats leading 2-1 going into singles action, the singles line-up was different than before as well.

Prussing at one singles started off very strong, his opponent caught up and Prussing was able to pull away and win the first set 7-5. Prussing lost the second 3-6 and came back to grab the third set and seal the win 7-5, once again.

McNair hit the ball beautifully passed his opponent numerous times and had a very good day on his volley game, as well as serves. He won in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

Mangan at three singles went three tough-fought sets and fell 5-7 in the first set and a tie-breaker in the second going in his favor 7-6 (7-6), 11-9.

Pentz won a closely-fought match in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Hawkins lost his first set, won the second in a tie-breaker and fought hard in the third, but lost the match very closely 10-8.

Spearnak won his first set without any problems and played extremely strong throughout the entire match. He won the second set decisively. His score was 6-2, 6-2.

“There is so much to improve on. Everyone has been putting in really good work in practice and we’re just trying to get better every day,” Mangan said.

“The team was really pleased with the win today,” he said.

Puget Sound was coming off a two-win streak.

Coach Ben Belletto was very pleased with the match outcome.

“Showing that we have taken the most out of our difficult stretch of schedule, we came out focused in our doubles and performed really well,” Coach Belletto said.

He suggested that they carried momentum from leading in doubles and translated that to singles with impressive performances on the court.