PARKLAND - Linfield College came into Friday afternoon's Northwest Conference men's tennis match against the host Pacific Lutheran Lutes looking to make a statement, and it did just that in garnering a convincing 7-2 win over the Lutes.

The Wildcats improved their overall record to 5-1 and remained unbeaten in five Northwest Conference matches with the victory over the Lutes. Linfield came into the contest ranked No. 12 in Division III West Region men's tennis while the Lutes held down the No. 9 spot. Those rankings will likely change as PLU saw its record fall to 7-3 overall and also 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 and Brett Kingzett over Justin Peterson and Joel Trudel at No. 1. The PLU duo came into the match unbeaten 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 and Zachery Lyons 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 and Cody Levien, 8-4. In fact, Manser accounted for PLU's other point with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Mitchell Davidson 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 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.

- PLU -