McKinnville, Ore.—Lewis & Clark men's tennis continued their red-hot start to the conference season with an 8-1 win over host Linfield University on Saturday afternoon. 

With the win, Lewis & Clark (5-1, 3-0) is tied atop the Northwest Conference with George Fox University (5-0, 3-1). 

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KEY MOMENTS 

Kristian Peev, Matt Chio, Miles Stone and Bennett Gazor each went 2-0 to lead the visitors to a rout of the Wildcats.  

After going down 2-1 to Linfield after doubles three weeks ago at home, Lewis & Clark came out strong and swept the doubles matches.  

Alberto Dos Santos and Chio earned an 8-6 win at second doubles and Logan Hausler and Peeve made it 2-0 with an 8-5 victory at first doubles. 

In the closest match of the day, Gazor and Stone went all the way to a tiebreaker at third doubles. The Pioneers duo dominted the tiebreak, winning it 7-1, to earn an 8-7 (7-1) victory. 

Lewis & Clark carried that momentum into singles play. 

Peev (first singles), Stone (third singles) and Atticus Pallock (sixth singles) all earned relatively easy two-set victories. Gazor's match was a little tighter, but he downed Cody Picknar 6-4, 7-5 at fifth singles. 

The other two singles matches went the distance. 

At second singles, Linfield earned their only win of the day. Nick Gabelman took the first set for the Wildcats, only for Hausler to storm back and a take a 6-3 second set win. In the third set, Gabelman captured the set 6-2 to earn a 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.  

Chio went to three sets at third singles as well. He dropped the first set (6-4), before winning the final two sets 6-2, 6-0. 

DEEPER LOOK  

• Pallock appeared in his first conference match of the season on Saturday. He is now 3-1 on the season in singles play. 
• Chio extended his singles winning streak to six matches and is now a team-best 9-1 on the year. 
• Since being paired together at second doubles, Chio and Dos Santos are a perfect 4-0. 
• Lewis & Clark has now won 17-straight matches over Linfield College dating back to April 1, 2012.  

WHO'S NEXT  

Lewis & Clark will return home on Sunday for their 2022 conference home opener. The Pioneers will host Pacific University at 11 a.m.