TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University men's tennis team will play its final home match of the season on Saturday, facing Linfield College at 4 p.m. at the Sprinker Recreation Center.
The Lutes (4-8, 1-3 Northwest Conference) are coming back from a spring break trip to California. PLU competed against California Lutheran University, Occidental College, and Chapman University. The Lutes dropped all three matches but put on a strong showing in doubles play against Chapman, winning two of three.
Marcus Lee was able to prevail in a singles match, winning in the third set. But in the end, the Panthers proved to be too much, winning the contest 6-3.
The Wildcats will be coming to Tacoma fresh off a trip to California as well. The Wildcats went 2-1 in California, defeating Fullerton College and Glendale Community College before falling to Whittier College.
This weekend's matchup, marks the last home event for the Lutes, and will be Senior Day.
Justin deMattos is the lone senior on the young Lute team. As deMattos prepares for the final home event of the season he reflected on his time as a Lute,
"My favorite part about being a member of the Lutes tennis team for the past four years has been the connections I have been able to make between my teammates and the tennis community. I feel like I can always find someone to go out and hit with at any time and I definitely have made some lifelong friendships through playing the sport."
"I would tell an incoming member of the team to enjoy every moment. The first few years of being on the team was really hard for me and I wish now that I would have enjoyed that time more. It is an absolute privilege to be able to play a sport you love at a college level no matter what the outcome of each match is. I would also tell them to set big goals. I made it a goal of mine to keep working hard and get better every year and there is no way that I thought I would be playing at a #2 spot when I first started playing. Anything is possible though."
Justin is majoring in physics. We asked him about his plans for after graduation.
"I am currently waiting to see if I can get into a graduate program for Astronomy after I graduate" said deMattos. "My dream job since I was in high school and since I looked through a telescope for the first time has been to work for NASA so eventually I hope to find myself there as an astrophysicist. In the world of tennis, I hope to continue playing after I graduate, both for fun and competitively. Tennis is a lifelong sport and I hope to be playing it forever."
deMattos and the rest of the team will be in action at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
