By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Linfield College won four close matches in singles and two close matches in doubles, as the Wildcats grabbed a 9-0 victory over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference men's tennis match on Sunday, April 9 at the WU Tennis Courts. Linfield upped its record to 6-11 overall, 5-5 in the NWC, while Willamette fell to 1-11 overall, 1-9 in the NWC.

In doubles, the Wildcats gained close wins at the #2 and #3 positions.

The #2 doubles match went to Nathan Saragoza and John Lutaaya over Hunter Yee (Fr., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and Colin Fisher (Fr., Caldwell, ID/Thomas Jefferson Charter School), 8-5. At #3 doubles, Carter Pentz and Eric Rutherford held off Derek Lund (Jr., Helena, MT/Capital HS) and Jesse Mackinney (Jr., Arcata, CA/Northcoast Prep and Performing Arts Academy), 8-5.

Linfield's top doubles team of Tyler Linscott and Ben McNair downed Aaron Schechter (So., Seattle, WA/James A. Garfield HS) and Gunnar Lee (Sr., Hilo, HI/St. Joseph School) of Willamette, 8-3.

The four highly-contested singles matches were at the #2, #3, #4 and #5 positions. In the #2 match, McNair of Linfield outlasted Lee of WU in a super tie-breaker played instead of a third set, 6-4, 5-7, 10-8. Saragoza took #3 singles for the Wildcats by rallying past Yee, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.

At #4 singles, Lutaaya dueled with Lund of Willamette for three sets, before claiming a 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 victory. The #5 singles match was won by Jacob Mangan of Linfield, who defeated Fisher, in two tie-breakers, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3).

Linscott prevailed for the Wildcats in the #1 singles match, as he downed Schechter, 6-2, 6-2. At #6 singles, Trent Prussing defeated Mackinney, 6-2, 6-1.

The Bearcats will host the University of Puget Sound on Friday, April 14. Match time is set for 4 p.m. (PDT) at the WU Tennis Courts. It will be Senior Day for the Bearcats.