Warm ups . . .

The Washburn Lady Blues tennis squad will open MIAA play this weekend when they will face new conference foes in Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma on the road beginning on March 8. Washburn enters the match with an 0-5 record overall.

Drop shots . . . 

• The Lady Blues are coming off a 6-3 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma last time out on March 2.

• Washburn fell 9-0 to Newman the day before.

• Northeastern State is 9-1 this season and will take on Central Oklahoma on March 7 prior to facing the Lady Blues.

• NSU owns a 6-3 win over No. 28-ranked Tarleton State and a 5-4 win over No. 48-ranked St. Mary's (Texas). NSU's lone loss was to a 5-4 loss to No. 22 Drury who beat the Lady Blues 9-0 on Feb. 3.

• Central Oklahoma is 5-0 this season and will take on Emporia State on March 8 after facing NSU on March 7 in Tahlequah.

• The Bronchos own wins over Newman and Southeastern State this season.

• Jodie Blackim leads the team with six singles wins so far this season while fellow freshman Gwen Shepler has four wins.

• Sophomore Casyn Buchman recorded four wins in the fall but will not join the Lady Blues tennis team until basketball season is over.

• In singles play this season, Washburn is 24-54 overall while recording a 16-26 record in doubles play.

• In dual matches, Washburn is 1-29 in singles play while going 3-12 in doubles play.

• The doubles team of Blackim and Kirsten Holle has two of the three doubles wins while the duo of Sophie O'Neill and Gwen Shepler have the other victory.

Up Next. . . 

Washburn will face a road contest at Rockhurst before returning home to take on Lindenwood on March 15 and East Central on March 16 in Topeka.