The win kept the Wildcats’ seven-year conference unbeaten streak intact. Linfield moved to 7-2 for the season and 7-0 in conference matches. Whitman fell to 6-3 and 6-2 in the NWC.
Linfield took a 2-1 lead in doubles, as Sallie Katter (Sr., Salem, Ore.) and Sophie Larson (Jr., Eugene, Ore.) paired for an 8-1 win over the Missionaries’ Elise Otto and Margo Lentz at No. 1. Sarah Click (Jr., Vancouver, Wash.) and Abby Olbrich (Soph., Vancouver, Wash.) combined to defeat Whitman’s Divneet Kaur and Katie Oost 8-3 at No. 3. Whitman kept the match close with an 8-5 win at No. 3, where Hadley DeBree and Emily Rolston teamed up to beat the Linfield tandem of Sarah Watanabe (Jr., Kirkland, Wash.) and Kiana Nip (Soph., Lahaina, Hawaii) at No. 3.
The singles pairings featured some competitive matches, most notably at No. 4. Nip had to fend off a challenge from Lentz, coming from behind to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-0. Otto handed Katter her first NWC loss of the season, pulling out a 6-3, 7-5 victory at No. 1. Olbrich recorded a 6-4, 6-2 decision over DeBree at No. 2, and Larson managed a 6-4, 6-1 outcome over Oost at No. 3.
The Missionaries snatched wins in the lower two flights, with Kaur surprising Click 6-4, 6-3 at No. 5, and Rolston upending Watanabe 6-2, 6-4 at No. 6, handing the Wildcats’ sophomore her first singles defeat of 2009.
“The No. 1 and No. 2 doubles came out firing from the start and didn't stop,” said Wildcats coach Amy Dames Smith. “That momentum carried well into singles. We had to dig in deep. Two freshmen and a sophomore really delivered when it came to our singles matches, particularly Kiana Nip who came back after being a set down. Overall, this was a great team win.”
COMING UP: The Wildcats play three home matches on consecutive days, beginning Friday at home against Pacific Lutheran. Start time is set for 3:30 p.m.
Print This Page
Kiana Nip
Freshman draws coach's praise
More Information:
Linfield Women's Tennis
Women's Tennis Schedule
Women's Tennis Season Statistics
Recent Headlines
Wildcats run win streak to six
Linfield keeps pace in NWC race
'Cats clean Lutes' clock
'Cats blank short-handed Bruins
Kelly Bird
Director of Sports Information
Linfield College
McMinnville, OR 97128
E-mail: kbird@linfield.edu
Phone: 503-883-2439
Fax: 503-883-2649
