Linfield University Athletics

JUNIOR
Varsity letter winner.
10-0 win-loss singles record.
12-3 doubles win-lose record.  
Second-team All-Northwest Conference selection.
NWC Scholar Athlete.
 
SOPHOMORE
Varsity letter winner.
Recorded a 10-4 record in singles.
12-4 in doubles play.
First-team All-Northwest Conference selection.
ITA Scholar Athlete.
NWC Scholar Athlete.
NWC Women’s Tennis Student Athlete of the Week.
 
FRESHMAN
Varsity letter winner.
ITA Scholar Athlete.
Northwest Conference Scholar Athlete.
Named Northwest Conference Student-Athlete of the Week.
Went 6-2 in singles play.
Recorded a 6-2 record in doubles play.
 
PUNAHOU HIGH SCHOOL
Four-time letter winner.
Three-time Interscholastic League of Hawaii First-team honoree.
Finished fourth at the 2018 HHSAA Doubles tournament.
Team captain.
 
ACADEMIC HONORS, STUDY-ABROAD EXPERIENCES AND INTERNSHIPS SINCE COMING TO LINFIELD
Studied Abroad in 2022 in Yokohama, Japan.
In 2021 and 2022 Order of Omega Academic Excellence Award recipient.
Received the SAAC Academic All-Star Award in both 2021 and 2022.
2021 Lois Gunning Fry Chemistry Scholarship Award recipient.  
2022 Albert W. Stout Chemistry Scholarship Award recipient.
Interned in 2022 for SHWCC.
Phi Sigma Sigma Lindsey Orser Scholarship recipient.
 
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Daughter of Tammy and Robin Matsunaga.
Member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
Has maintained a grade point average of 4.00 throughout college career.
 
WHY LINFIELD? Linfield is different from where I came from, but I felt that Linfield would be the perfect environment for me to grow as a person, student, and athlete. I believe that I can strive to be the best I can be with the support from the Linfield community and faculty.
 
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STUDENT-ATHLETE AT LINFIELD? Being a student-athlete at Linfield means the world to me! I have more love and support than I could ever ask for on and off court, and it is the best way for me to prepare for challenges I might face after Linfield.
 
WHAT MAKES YOU INTERESTING AS A STUDENT-ATHLETE? Although I'm playing tennis at Linfield, I started karate at 3, and my hobbies include theatre and reading!
 
WHAT IS NEXT AFTER LINFIELD? My dream job is in oncology, and Linfield is helping me prepare for what it takes to go on the medical school journey through the unique courses and its academic advising.
 
WHAT IS THE BEST CLASS YOU’VE TAKEN AT LINFIELD? The best Linfield class I have taken so far is Physical Chemistry 2 with Brian Gilbert. Not only was it one of the most academically rewarding, but I also totally enjoyed learning about concepts that we cannot explain with classical physics. It made getting up at 8 am every morning worth it!
 
WHEN NOT COMPETING IN SPORTS OR STUDYING FOR SCHOOL, I LIKE TO SPEND MY FREE TIME…Jamming out to music with my roommates! Tennis and school definitely take a lot out of me, mentally and physically, but singing and dancing my heart out with my roommates relieves all of that stress immediately.
 
THE GREATEST LESSON THAT I’VE LEARNED WHILE COMPETING IN ATHLETICS AT LINFIELD HAS BEEN… The greatest principle I've learned while competing as a Wildcat here at Linfield is trust. Prior to college athletics, I never really felt the need to trust myself (much less my teammates) since tennis was always an "individual" sport. Playing on the team here has proven to me that there is so much more value that comes from trusting myself and my teammates on court. And it has shown repeatedly that this is the grit that makes us so successful.
 
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR LINFIELD CAREER THUS FAR? The highlight of my Linfield athletic career was my midnight match during the 2019 Fall ITA Regional. Because of bad weather, I started my match at 11:00 pm and did not finish till 2:30 am! Definitely a thriller and something I will not forget!
 
Who Has Been the Greatest Inspiration in Your Life? Why Has He or She Been So Influential? The greatest inspirations in my life have been my parents. As first-generation college students paying for their own education, they have shown me the virtues of hard work, respect, and trusting the process even when everything seems to fail. These values, ingrained in not just our family, but in our culture, have been so crucial in my following my dreams here at Linfield.
 
As a Linfield-Student Athlete, My Goals Individually and Collectively for My Team Are... As a student athlete, my individual goals are to succeed in the classroom and on the court without sacrificing one or the other. This goal resonates with my team's goals as well because we strive for excellence in whatever we put our minds to.