PORTLAND, Ore. – Despite starting the day strong by earning their first doubles point of the season the Wildcats fell to the Pioneers 5-2 on Saturday at the Lewis & Clark Tennis Dome.
Linfield did receive a dominant singles performance from
Kaitlynn Canubida for the second win of her sophomore season.
The loss dropped the Wildcats to an 0-4 record with and 0-2 mark against Northwest Conference opponents. Lewis & Clark improved to 2-4 and 1-1 in the NWC.
DOUBLES
Although Linfield found itself down early with a loss at No. 3 doubles the Wildcats were able to win handily in the top two flights.
Linfield's top tandem of Canubida and senior
Emma Tuttle earned a 6-2 win in their first time teaming up, taking down the Pios' Susanna Anand and Maya Curry.
The match score doubles point was secured at No. 2 for the Wildcats by
Sam Baltz and
Emily Redwood, beating Charlotte Makoni and Taylor Stadjuhar 6-2. Saturday's match was also Baltz's and Redwood's first time being paired together.
SINGLES
Linfield took a 2-0 lead on the day when Canubida cruised to 6-0, 6-1 win over Curry at No. 2 singles, her first of the year in straight sets. The Mililani, Hawaii product now has a win at each of the top two spots in the singles lineup.
But the 'Cats could not sustain the momentum elsewhere on the ladder, with Anand beating Tuttle 6-0, 6-3 in the day's top match, Makoni beating Baltz 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 and a rested Hayley Kreps besting Redwood 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4.
Sundi King came close to earning her first collegiate win in a three-set freshman v. freshman battle against Stadjuhar in the No. 5 contest, taking the first before Stadjuhar stormed back for the second and won the match by 10-point tiebreak, 3-6, 6-2, 10-6.
Lewis & Clark set the final score at 5-2 with a shutout win for Lauren Smith-Euben over Lilliana Cano.
NEXT
Linfield will head north to Tacoma, Wash. on Sunday morning to play the Puget Sound Loggers (1-4, 1-3), the final of a five-match road stretch to begin the season for the 'Cats.
They'll play their first home matches of the year next weekend when they host Whitworth and Whitman.
