Nic Miles – Sports reporter. Only three matches into the spring season, the Linfield men’s and women’s tennis teams have experienced success against conference opponents.
Since the women’s first match and victory against the University of Puget Sound on Feb. 7, they have followed suit with two more wins against Willamette and Pacific universities, respectively.
Despite being a group of mostly freshmen and sophomores, it hasn’t stifled the team in any matches.
“Looking at past seasons and this season so far, I think our team has been incredibly successful despite the young age,” junior Sarah Click, who was 15-6 in singles in 2009, said. “Being young has its advantages because this year, with the entire line-up returning, we are coming into the season with a lot more experience.”
The team isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon, even with a challenging match against a fellow Northwest Conference tennis powerhouse, Lewis & Clark College.
“Lewis & Clark is another team in the NWC that has improved upon last year, so it will be another tough match,” Click said. “Spirits are high after the successful weekend, but we can never underestimate our competition.”
On the men’s side, there haven’t been quite as many matches. Linfield had its first match against University of California-Santa Cruz on Jan. 31, losing 9-0. However, in its first conference match against Pacific University on Feb. 12, Linfield won 7-2.
Senior Kyle Anderson finished the day second overall in singles competition as well as second in doubles competition.
“I think our team’s mentality has improved because this year everyone is really playing for the team, something we might have lacked in the past,” Anderson said.
The men’s team will host UPS at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 19.
“UPS is always a solid team, but I think we always have greater depth, so I’m confident that we’ll win this weekend,” Anderson said.
He is making the most of all his matches and said he has had three great years of tennis.
“I want to enjoy every match and relish every opportunity I get to play and hang out with my teammates,” he said. “Also, finally locking up that elusive conference championship would be awesome.”
The women’s team will take on Lewis & Clark on Feb. 20 in Portland.