TACOMA, Wash. – Knocking off their regional and conference rival, the Linfield Wildcats thumped the Pacific Lutheran Lutes 7-2 Friday on the PLU Courts.

Linfield came into the Northwest Conference match looking to make a statement and did just that. The Wildcats improved their overall record to 5-1 and remained unbeaten in five NWC matches with the victory over the Lutes.

Linfield came into the contest ranked No. 12 among NCAA Division III West Region program while the Lutes held down the No. 9 spot. Those rankings will likely change as PLU saw its record fall to 7-3, both overall and in the conference.

Linfield got off to a strong start with wins in two of the three doubles matches, highlighted by a stellar 8-3 victory from Mark Magdaong (Jr., Lahaina, Hawaii) and Brent Kingzett (Jr., Eugene, Ore.) over Justin Peterson and Joel Trudel at No. 1. The PLU duo came into the match unbeaten and ranked No. 3 in the region, No. 12 in the nation and unbeaten in nine spring season matches, while the Linfield pair was unranked. The other Linfield doubles win came at No. 3 where Matt Levering (Sr., Salem, Ore.) and Zachery Lyons (Fr., Vancouver, Wash.) topped Brent Smoots and Taylor Dickey, 8-2.

PLU picked up its doubles point at No. 2 where Michael Manser and Scott Sheldon beat Matt Kauffman (Sr., West Linn, Ore.) and Cody Levien (Fr., Corvallis, Ore.), 8-4. In fact, Manser accounted for PLU's other point with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Mitchell Davidson (Fr., Surrey, B.C.) at No. 3 singles.

In a battle of regionally ranked singles opponents, No. 12 Magdaong topped No. 15 Trudel, 7-5, 6-2. Other Linfield wins came from Tal DeWitt (Jr., Battle Ground, Wash.) over Justin Peterson at No. 2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, Kingzett over Sheldon at No. 4, 6-4, 6-2, Levering over Dickey at No. 5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), and from Levien over Smoots at No. 6, 6-2, 6-1.

Wildcats coach Carl Swanson shuffled his lineup to compensate for the absence of all-conference performer Kyle Anderson (Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.). Swanson used nine different players in the starting lineup.

“Guys moved up in the lineup and got the job done,” praised Swanson. “Mark and Brent beat a team that won the ITA Championship. Mark beat a very tough opponent, who was the NWC Player of the Year last year. Matt  Levering stepped into the starting lineup and won two matches. Brent clinched the match with his singles victory and Tal played very well moving up a spot to No. 2 singles.”

COMING UP: Linfield returns home to host George Fox Saturday at the Linfield Tennis Center at 1 p.m.