MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield dropped a pair of matches at home Sunday, falling to NWC foe Willamette 4-3 in the morning before losing in the evening 4-0 to California Lutheran of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
 
The long day for the Wildcats inside Rutschman Field House sandwiched a match on the men's side between Linfield and Cal Lutheran as well, setting a nine hour gap between the women's squad's first serves of each match.
 
DOUBLES VS WILLAMETTE
The Wildcats (0-4, 0-2) found themselves on their heels early as the Bearcats (1-2, 1-1) swept their way through the doubles lineup.
 
Willamette took the first point quickly with a 6-1 win at No. 3 for Grace O'Steen and Alicia Sola against Lyla Khlee and Steffenie Stark.
 
The Bearcats then clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win for No. 1 Willamette duo Alexa de Crinis and Reese Beyrouty, before the sweep was completed by Sofia Spencer and Eva Lief beating Sundi King and Gianna Molony at No. 2 by an identical score.
 
"We did not start off doubles very well and Willamette seemed to want it more," said head coach Phil Whitehead.
 
SINGLES VS WILLAMETTE
Linfield was able to even the score to start of singles play thanks to another commanding performance by Samantha Baltz at No. 2, beating Spencer 6-0, 6-1, to improve to 3-0 on her junior season.
 
Willamette regained the lead after the No. 1 flight where de Crinis put on a furious comeback to defeat Canubida 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, before Linfield tied the score again at 2-2 with a win for Emily Redwood at No. 3, grinding out a three-set comeback of her own against Beyrouty to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
 
But the Bearcats managed to take the lead for good from there, with Lief beating King 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 before Katie Briggs clinched for Willamette 6-1, 6-1 against Lilianna Cano at No. 6.
 
The morning session did end on a positive note for the Wildcats when freshman Molony picked up the first win of her career at No. 5, beating Sola 6-4, 6-1.
 
"A big morning for Gianna," said Whitehead. "Great to see her fight, play strong and be mentally tough. She has a lot of great tennis in her future."
 
DOUBLES VS CAL LUTHERAN
Despite a lopsided scorecard, the Wildcats fought hard when they returned to court later in the day against a talented Regals team.
 
"Playing against one of the top teams out of the SCIAC, we finally showed some fight," said Whitehead. "I know we struggled with doubles this weekend but tonight we found an extra gear to come out and compete."
 
Cal Lutheran struck first with a 'bagel' victory, 6-0, for Anaya Ayanbadejo and Eva Toplak against Khlee and Stark. They then clinched the doubles point with a 6-1 win by Kylee Limpias and Anya Rajan against Canubida and Baltz at No. 1, before completing the doubles sweep with another 6-1 score from Grace Balasian and Evelyn Oltmans at No. 2.
 
SINGLES VS CAL LUTHERAN
The Regals extended their lead to 2-0 with a shutout for Balasian at No. 4 against Molony, 6-1, 6-0, before setting themselves up for the clinch with a 6-2, 6-1 win by Oltmans against King at No. 3.
 
Cal Lutheran closed out the Wildcats thanks to a win 6-2, 6-3 performance by Rajan against Baltz, handing Baltz her first loss of the year.
 
Canubida was trending towards securing a potential win after a strong first set in the No. 1 flight, but the match went unfinished due to the Regals clinching at No. 2.
 
"To see Kaitlynn take the first set at No. 1 singles was so inspiring," said Whitehead. "What a great atmosphere in the field house tonight with the men's and women's teams playing back-to-back. It was a great night of tennis for our community and our university."
 
NEXT
Linfield faces one of its toughest tests of the year next weekend when the Wildcats head to eastern Washington to face defending NWC champion Whitman (1-2, 1-0) in Walla Walla, Washington, on Saturday at 11 a.m. before traveling to Spokane, Washington the next day to play the Whitworth Pirates.
 
In a scheduling quirk, the Wildcats then host Whitman the following weekend on February 28.
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