| Box Score 2 BOISE, Idaho – The Linfield men's tennis program signed up for a tough task to serve up its spring season, facing Division I opponents Idaho and Boise State at the Broncos' home facility Boas Indoor Tennis Center.
 
The Wildcats came out competitive in their morning against the Vandals (3-6) but dropped both matches 7-0.
 
DOUBLES VS IDAHO
Linfield was unable to pick up a win, but the Wildcats immediately put pressure on the Vandals with competitive play in doubles, despite rolling out three doubles teams that had yet to play together in dual match action.
 
"We were ready this morning," said head coach Todd Mansfield. "Our energy and execution were excellent against Idaho."
 
Although Linfield senior pairing Brooks Lerfald and transfer Zac Nakajima lost 6-2 at the top of the lineup card to Idaho's Chetanna Amadike and Gabriel Moroder, at No. 3 doubles senior Alexander Rosenquist and Nick Owens fell just 6-4 to Xavier Martin Roca and Valentin Glasl.
 
The most compelling flight of the day proved to be at No. 2 doubles, where junior Cameron Paulsen and senior transfer Joey Henderson pushed Noe De Col and Eric Wang to the brink, but the Vandal duo eventually held on to win 7-5.
 
"Our doubles were fantastic. Even though we lost all three, we were right there in two of them and competed for the point. Some days I hate no-advantage scoring. Today was one of those days. We lost six sets with one break, all at deuce."
 
SINGLES VS IDAHO
At the top of the ladder Lerfald faced Amadike, eventually falling 6-3, 6-1, while Henderson took the No. 2 spot for the 'Cats against Moroder, but lost 6-1, 6-2.
 
Nakajima was able to pick up multiple games in both sets in the No. 3 flight against Wang, eventually ending 6-2, 6-3, with Paulsen showing competitive fire at No. 4 as well, forcing De Col to work for his second set in a match that ended 6-2, 6-4.
 
The first match of the day concluded with Martin Roca beating Rosenquist 6-3, 6-0 while Glasl beat Owens 6-1, 6-2.
 
"We came away from this match with a great feeling," said Mansfield. "Every player did something impressive. They all showed me their dedication, hard work has paid off and we can't wait to show that in League play."
 
DOUBLES VS BOISE STATE
The Wildcats D-I challenge became even tougher in the afternoon against the home Broncos (5-2), the reigning champions of the Mountain West Conference and a perennial NCAA tournament program.
 
"After playing an exhibition against them on Friday night, we were ready to show our best self. The problem was they were ready too," said Mansfield. "They didn't take us lightly at all and they showed why they have made the NCAA's three years running."
 
Linfield was unable to even take a game against Boise State in doubles play, as Lerfald and Nakajima lost to Taiyo Kurata and Julius Seifert, Henderson and Paulsen fell to Adama Duda and Idriss Haddouch and Owens and Rosenquist were dismissed by Stewart Aronson and Filip Soderqvist, all by scores of 6-0.
 
"Doubles was a blur, said Mansfield. "It was a punch in the gut, but our players have pride and they showed up in singles."
 
SINGLES VS BOISE STATE
The Wildcats fought hard throughout singles play but in the end found themselves outmatched by the talented Broncos squad.
 
"I know the scores don't display it, but the points we played today were incredible," said Mansfield. "We fought every point, but just struggled to put four together in enough games. If we play like this against our league opponents our results will be fantastic."
 
Haddouch earned the first singles win of the match with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Paulsen at No. 4, quickly followed by Aronson beating Lerfald 6-1, 6-0 at the top of the ladder.
 
Duda then clinched the dual match at 4-0 with a win at No. 5 over Rosenquist 6-1, 6-0, just before Lukas Velik blanked Henderson 6-0, 6-0.