With a familiar face leading the program for the first time since the early 1990s the Linfield women's tennis team looks to spend 2025 climbing back into the mix in the competitive Northwest Conference.
Phil Whitehead returns as head coach of the Wildcats for his second tenure after serving as head coach from 1988-94 to the tune of a 58-53-1 record.
"In my mind, and to a lot of people, Linfield is the flagship of women's tennis in the NWC," said Whitehead.
"We're talking about 14 conference championships since 2000 and numerous All-Americans. This should be the top program in the conference. We just had a little blip the last couple of years, and that's why when this opportunity came up, I jumped at it, because I didn't want it to go any further. We want to get back to where we belong."
Linfield finished last year 4-9 and 3-4 in conference play, tied for fifth in the league. It was the first time the 'Cats finished below .500 since 2013.
With a young roster featuring just one upperclassman, senior Emma Tuttle, progress and growth will be key over the course of Whitehead's first season back at the helm.
Linfield secured its first win of the season Feb. 23 at Puget Sound, beating the Loggers 5-2, in a match that featured Tuttle's first career win at No. 1 singles.
She's been a fixture in Linfield's lineup through her career at both doubles and singles, bringing 21 career singles wins and 24 in doubles play into her senior season.
"I love what I see from [Emma]," said Whitehead. "She just needs to make her game a little more solid and have some self confidence in what she does and know that she is a good player. I just need her to believe in herself. Her work ethic is second to none right now. She's leading by example with the type of person she is, and she's leading by what she does on the court."
Tuttle will be paired with sophomore Kaitlynn Canubida at No. 1 doubles, who's coming off a solid freshman campaign in which she served as the No. 3 singles player and posted a team-best 8-5 record as part of the No. 2 doubles squad.
Canubida's shown to be a strong option at No. 2 singles, starting 2025 with a 3-2 record while earning two doubles wins alongside Tuttle.
The middle of the lineup is bolstered by two of her classmates in sophomores Sam Baltz and Emily Redwood, both showing promise early in their careers. Baltz posted a team-best 8-5 singles record last season while Redwood surprised this fall with a semifinal appearance in the "B" draw of the ITA Northwest Regional Tournament.
"This group, their talent and their ability are through the roof," said Whitehead. "For them it's that daily grind of believing in yourself and getting over the hump there."
"They're now seeing top players from other schools so they can't run and hide. We're working daily in practice to get them that confidence and get them to understand that 'Yes, you can play at this level, or you wouldn't be here."
Whitehead's scorecard will be filled out by three freshmen, Lilianna Cano, Sundi King and Elise Reese. All three will be expected to contribute to the lineup in their first seasons.
"It's like trial by fire, but their attitudes have been awesome," said Whitehead. "They come out, they work hard, they have goals, and we're going to try and do whatever we can to help them get there."
