PASADENA, Calif. –
Kaitlynn Canubida and
Emily Redwood teamed up for a top-of-the-ladder doubles win but the Wildcats fell 7-0 Monday afternoon to the Caltech Beavers.
With Linfield missing Canubida's usual partner
Samantha Baltz due to injury she and Redwood were paired together for just the third time this season but emerged victorious for the second time as a duo.
"Following an inspiring showing against Occidental yesterday we came out fighting against the 31st ranked Caltech squad," said head coach
Phil Whitehead. "Caltech is a fine team, and we played some very talented players. I think we are setting ourselves up well for when we return to NWC play."
Unfortunately, Linfield was unable to find success elsewhere in the lineup against the Beavers, ranked as the No. 31 team in NCAA Division III by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, while playing through southern California heat with temperatures rising over 80 degrees by the time of first serve.
DOUBLES
By the time Canubida and Redwood completed their match Caltech had already clinched the match's doubles point with a pair of 6-0 wins, Anna Sczcuka and Aoi Kunimoto defeating
Sundi King and
Gianna Molony at No. 2 and Anna Piland and Naya Kessman doing the same against
Elise Reese and
Sophie Benke at No. 3. It was the first time either Reese or Benke had seen the court in a varsity match this season.
"Number two and number three doubles played against the toughest DIII pairs they have seen so far this season and even though they both fell 6-0, their level of play was the highest it has been for this spring season," said Whitehead. "I'm hoping they can keep building off what they have accomplished here in 'soCal.'"
But Canubida and Redwood ignored the results on the other court to power through to their win at No. 1, finishing out their set strong against the Beavers' lead tandem of Carissa Gerung and Hannah Ramsperger to win 6-4.
"Forced to play without Samantha again we had to go with Kaitlynn and Emily, and they provided fireworks as they matched the top Caltech duo winner for winner before closing them out," said Whitehead. "They were just so steady and determined today. It was all about playing clean shots and forcing their opponents into hitting errors. It was amazing tennis."
SINGLES
As singles play began the Beavers built off their doubles point to quickly move into position to clinch, earning 6-0, 6-0 wins by Ramsperger over King at No. 3, Polaris Hayes over Molony at No. 4 and Kessman over
Lilianna Cano at No. 6.
At No. 5
Lyla Khlee managed to pick up two games in her first set against Kunimoto before the Beaver pulled away, while Canubida and Redwood were unable to keep their momentum from doubles going before they both fell 6-1, 6-0, Canubida at No. 1 to Gerung and Redwood at No. 2 to Szczuka.
"Though the singles score looks very one-sided, there continued to be some great fight from Canubida, Molony and Khlee," said Whitehead. "I thought these three were able to extend their rallies deep into each game. Gianna is striking the ball very well this week and has taken another step forward in her game."
NEXT
Linfield wraps up its trip through southern California Wednesday at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks at 3:30 p.m. It will be the second time the two teams have met this season after the Regals beat the 'Cats in McMinnville on February 15.
Linfield returns home to resume NWC play March 29 against Whitworth.
