By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Linfield College, ranked #9 in the West Region of NCAA Division III, built a 3-0 lead, but Willamette University, ranked #11 in the Region, eventually pulled within 4-3, before the Wildcats held on for a 5-4 win at the Courthouse Tennis Club on Tuesday, April 6. Linfield moved to 12-5 overall, 12-2 in the Northwest Conference. WU dropped to 9-7, 9-5 in the NWC.

The deciding match was played at #2 singles. Kyle Anderson of Linfield won the match in three sets over Michael Baumgartner (Fr., Albany, OR/West Albany HS) of Willamette, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Anderson's victory gave the Wildcats a 5-3 advantage.

Linfield won all three doubles matches to take an early lead. At #1 doubles, the Linfield team of Mark Magdaong and Brent Kingzett defeated Joshua Wong (Fr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) and Cody Ferguson (So., North Bend, OR/North Bend HS/Western Oregon Univ.), 8-4.

The #2 doubles and #3 doubles matches were close contests. In the #2 match, Anderson and Tal DeWitt of the Wildcats held off Matthew Houser (Jr., Vancouver, WA/Evergreen HS) and Micah Mack (Sr., Wenatchee, WA/Wenatchee HS), 8-6.

At #3 doubles, Matt Kauffman and Cody Levien also won 8-6, as they outlasted the WU team of Baumgartner and Luke Lagattuta (Sr., Albuquerque, NM/Highland HS).

The teams shifted their efforts to singles and WU began to rally. Wong picked up a key win for the Bearcats at #1 singles, as he downed Magdaong, 6-0, 6-2. Magdaong entered the match ranked #8 in the West Region.

Ferguson won for Willamette at #3 singles with a 6-2, 6-2, triumph over DeWitt. Houser of WU faced Kingzett at #4 singles. Houser won the first set, 6-3, but Kingzett claimed the second set, 6-3, and took a 5-2 lead in the third set. Houser battled back to win five consecutive games on his way to taking the third set, 7-5.

Willamette won #5 singles, as Lagattuta prevailed over Davidson, 6-4, 6-3. Matt Levering of Linfield achieved a victory at #6 singles, as he defeated Mack, 6-4, 6-1.

Willamette will host Whitworth University on Saturday, April 10 at the WU Tennis Courts. Match time is set for 10 a.m. (PDT).

Tuesday, April 10
At Courthouse Tennis Club, Salem, Ore.

Linfield College 5, Willamette University 4

Singles
#1 - Joshua Wong (WU) defeated Mark Magdaong (LIN), 6-0, 6-2
#2 - Kyle Anderson (LIN) defeated Michael Baumgartner (WU), 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
#3 - Cody Ferguson (WU) defeated Tal DeWitt (LIN), 6-2, 6-2
#4 - Matthew Houser (WU) defeated Brent Kingzett (LIN), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
#5 - Luke Lagattuta (WU) defeated Mitchell Davidson (LIN), 6-4, 6-3
#6 - Matt Levering (LIN) defeated Micah Mack (WU), 6-4, 6-1

Doubles
#1 - Magdaong and Kingzett (LIN) defeated Wong and Ferguson (WU), 8-4
#2 - Anderson and DeWitt (LIN) defeated Houser and Mack (WU), 8-6
#3 - Matt Kauffman and Cody Levien (LIN) defeated Baumgartner and Lagattuta (WU), 8-6

Records:
Linfield College is 12-5 overall, 12-2 NWC. Willamette University is 9-7 overall, 9-5 NWC.