TACOMA, Wash. –
Kaitlynn Canubida and
Emily Redwood earned a No. 1 doubles win in their first match played together this season but the Wildcats could not find success elsewhere in the lineup Saturday in a 7-0 loss at Puget Sound.
"This was probably the most frustrating yet encouraging match of the year," said head coach
Phil Whitehead. "This was the effort and fight I've been looking for all year."
The Wildcats found themselves without usual No. 2 singles entry
Samantha Baltz after she was a late scratch due to injury sustained last weekend, forcing all in the lineup to move up a spot on the card.
DOUBLES
Though it was a strong win for Canubida and Redwood the doubles point had already been clinched by the time their flight went final.
The Loggers struck first with a win at No. 3 for Ginger Parker and Hannah Nejeldy Welt Lyla, 6-1, over
Lyla Khlee and
Steffenie Stark.
The Wildcats looked like they were about to even the score at No. 2 as
Sundi King and
Gianna Molony jumped out to a 4-0 lead but fell after an impressive comeback by Frances English and Nicole Wilson, winning 6-4.
"When it was confirmed that Sam would not be playing and that everyone would need to move up in the lineup the team got really fired up and came out smoking in doubles," said Whitehead.
It was a 7-5 victory for Canubida and Redwood over top Logger duo Kaylee Yamada and Pearl Buck, their first win in four matches they've been paired together in their careers.
"Kaitlynn and Emily played so hard, and No. 2 saw the return of the Sundi and Gianna pairing, and they played out of their minds before the UPS duo raised their game and forced a back-and-forth battle," said Whitehead. "No. 3 played some great points but couldn't overcome some great serving from Puget Sound. It really felt like we were taking the doubles point today but we just missed."
SINGLES
With all six flights in play at once the Loggers extended their lead to 3-0 with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 6 and a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 3.
Despite the Wildcats being shut out in team points Linfield did have competitive showing in several flights, including two three-setters.
At the top of the ladder Canubida found herself on the wrong end of a comeback after winning the first set, but eventually fell in three hotly contested sets 6-3, 6-7 (3-6), 8-10.
"The effort was there in singles," said Whitehead. "Kaitlynn was two points from winning her three-set tiebreak but just a couple of misplayed shots at the end allowed Yamada to escape with the 'W'."
Playing both doubles and singles for the first time in her junior season Redwood battled through two sets but could not take either, falling 6-7 (1-6), 5-7 at No. 2 to English, the highest spot in the lineup Redwood has played in her career.
"Emily moved up to two and fought like crazy but fell in two super close sets," said Whitehead.
Molony got off to a hot start at No. 4 but ended up falling in three flights, Wilson taking the matchup 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, while Buck beat Khlee 6-4, 6-1 at No. 5.
"Gianna played her best match in over a month but just came up short in a battle," said Whitehead. "One more match tomorrow at Willamette before we get Sam back and head to California.
"This team may have just proved something to itself today. Now we just need to take another step forward tomorrow."
NEXT
The Wildcats play their second of five consecutive road matches tomorrow in Salem with a visit to the Willamette Bearcats, first serve set for 11 a.m.
Linfield then takes a break from league play with a trip south to take on three members of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference over the university's spring break.
