CLU Sports

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Two top-10 ranked west region ranked teams battled at the Poulson Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon with Linfield (OR) College earning the final point in a 5-4 margin. Sophie Larson defeated CLU's Nicole Barnhart at the No. 3 singles to decide the match.

The No. 7 regionally ranked Wildcats (11-3) earned a pair of doubles victories to take a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

Four of the final six contests went to a third set with both teams splitting two apiece. CLU's Suz Nomura rallied to take down the current No. 10 west region ranked singles player Sallie Katter 1-6, 7-5, 6-4.

"There were lots of very good efforts against a very good team," praised CLU Head Coach Mike Benson following Monday's result.

The Linfield duo of Katter and Larson, currently the No. 8 ranked doubles team earned a convincing 8-1 victory over Nomura and Nicole Morikawa. However, Morikawa scored a point in singles play with a three set win at the No. 6 spot.

Tied 4-4 in the team score and Regals No. 3 Barnhart evening her match with a 6-3 second set win, Larson pulled away in the final set earning a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory to end the Wildcats two match losing skid.

Cal Lutheran (7-5) will host Pacific Lutheran (WA) University, the former stomping grounds of current CLU Head Coach Mike Benson, on Monday, March 23 at 2 p.m.

Linfield (OR) 5, Cal Lutheran 4
Doubles
#1 - Sophie Larson/Sallie Katter (LIN) d. Suz Nomura/Nicole Morikawa (CLU) 8-1
#2 - Sarah Click/Abby Olbrich (LIN) d. Jordan Leckness/Holly Beaman (CLU) 8-5
#3 - Nicole Barnhart/Kim Kolibas (CLU) d. Sarah Watanabe/Kirstie Franceschina (LIN) 8-1

Singles
#1 - Nomura (CLU) d. Katter (LIN) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
#2 - Olbrich (LIN) d. Leckness (CLU) 7-5, 6-2
#3 - Larson (LIN) d. Barnhart (CLU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
#4 - Click (LIN) d. Kolibas (CLU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
#5 - Beaman (CLU) d. Watanabe (LIN) 6-1, 6-1
#6 - Morikawa (CLU) d. Katie Patterson (LIN) 6-2, 4-6, 6-0