Men’s tennis competed against Hardin Simmons and Northern Colorado this weekend, dominating one team, and falling flat against the other. With a final score of 5-4 against Hardin Simmons and 0-4 against Northern Colorado, the ‘Cats prepare themselves for the season ahead.

The weekend of matches started late on Saturday with a delayed game against Hardin Simmons. The opposing team, playing against Pacific University earlier that day and arrived late to the match against the ‘Cats.

In the doubles competition, Linfield’s Eric Rutherford and Luis Rojas defeated HSU with a score of 8-4; junior Jacob Mangan and sophomore John Lutaaya defeated HSU with a score of 8-4; and senior Ben McNair and sophomore Nathan Saragoza fell short when they lost their match with a score of 7-9.

In the singles competition, sophomore Luis Rojas defeated HSU with a score of 6-0, 6-3; McNair won with a score of 6-1, 6-4; and junior Trent Prussing defeated HSU 6-1, 6-2. Junior J.T. Barcellos, Saragoza, and Mangan didn’t secure the win in their own matches, nonetheless, the Wildcats pulled through against Hardin Simmons.

Sunday, the ‘Cats travelled to Forest Grove where they played Northern Colorado. This match proved to be more challenging as they were up against a Division 1 school; the final score was 0-4.

Linfield was defeated in all events against Northern Colorado. In the doubles competition, Junior Eric Rutherford and Rojas finished with a final score of 4-6; McNair and Prussing with a final score of 3-6; and Mangan and Lutaaya with a final score of 4-6.

“We came out of the gates bringing great energy in doubles,” Mangan said. “I think we caught them a little off guard when we were almost able to take the doubles point from them.”

In the singles competition, Barcellos finished with a score of 2-6, 0-6; Lutaaya with a final score of 1-6, 0-6; and Mangan with a final score of 0-6, 0-6.

The men’s tennis team start conference games this coming weekend, playing Whitman on Saturday March 4, and Whitworth on Sunday March 5 in Washington.

“This week there’s going to be an emphasis on coming out strong in doubles and playing with confidence against the Whits,” Mangan said.