McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Trailing 3-0 after doubles and 4-2 late in the match, visiting Whitworth rallied to defeat Linfield 5-4 in the Northwest Conference men's tennis opener for both teams.

The Pirates improved to 1-6 after beginning the year with a brutally-difficult non-conference schedule.  The Wildcats dropped to 0-2.  The teams will play a non-conference match on Sunday.

Linfield made fairly quick work of the three doubles contests.  The only close match came at #2 where Will Worth and Ethan Myers edged Whitworth's Brenden Archer and Nathan Tjelli 8-5.  Both Archer and Tjelli would still factor in the comeback.

Trailing 3-0 heading to singles play, the Pirates had to win five of the six matches to earn the team victory.  The comeback began at #3 singles where Kincaid Norris got Whitworth on the board with a 6-2, 6-1 victory and Ethan Violette got the Bucs within 3-2 with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Gilbert Fuentes at #1 singles.

Michael Manion got Linfield within a point of victory with his 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win over Cameron Brewer.

Jonathan Hutley pulled the Pirates within 4-3 with a 6-4, 6-3 win at #5 singles.  Archer tied the match with his own comeback at #4 singles, defeating Worth 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-3.  Tjelli's 6-3, 6-3 win over Myers at #6 singles clinched the team victory.