McMINNVILLE, Ore. – In a battle of regionally ranked teams, Pacific Lutheran was the better squad Saturday, beating the home-standing Linfield Wildcats 6-3 on the outdoor courts at the Linfield Tennis Center.

The PLU victory reversed a 7-2 Linfield win in early March on the PLU courts in Parkland, Wash. The Lutes, who won for the fourth consecutive time, improved to 11-5 in the NWC and 13-9 overall. Linfield saw its modest three-match win streak halted as the Wildcats dropped to 13-3 in conference action and 13-6 overall.

Linfield entered the match ranked ninth in the West Region. PLU is rated 12th in the West.

Linfield took a 2-1 lead after the three doubles matches but couldn't sustain the momentum through the six singles flights.

PLU's regionally ranked tandem of Joel Trudel and Justin Peterson blanked Kyle Anderson and Tal DeWitt, 8-0, at No. 1, but the Wildcats won the other two matches. Brett Kingzett and Matt Kauffman put together an 8-5 victory over Michael Manser and Scott Sheldon at No. 2 doubles and Cody Levien and Zachery Lyons outlasted the PLU duo of Kevin Floyd and Brent Smoots, 8-6, at No. 3.

Trudel topped Anderson 6-3, 6-3 at No. 1 singles while Peterson handled DeWitt by a 6-2, 6-2 count at No. 2. Manser topped Levien 6-2, 6-4 at No. 4 and Sheldon prevailed over Lyons 6-2, 6-2 at No. 5. Taylor Dickey handled Linfield's Tal Edman 6-2, 6-3 to complete the PLU scoring. Mitchell Davidson record a 7-5, 3-2 (retired) victory over Floyd at No. 3.

Both teams have qualified for the conference postseason tournament scheduled for April 16-17 at the Yakima Tennis Club in Yakima, Wash.

(Courtesy of Linfield Sports Information)