SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Washburn men's tennis team swept the ITA Central Regional Championships for the first time in school history Sunday, with Alejandro Valarezo Plaza taking home the singles championship, while the team of Valarezo Plaza and Blake Hunter won the doubles title.
 
Valarezo Plaza took action in the semifinals and finals Sunday, starting with a straight-set victory over Andrei Masin of Lindenwood University, 6-4, 7-5.
 
He then took on Sherif Abohabaga of Southwest Baptist University in the finals, the top seed in the tournament and the No. 9 singles player in the nation. Valarezo Plaza took the first set 6-4, then played into a 6-6 tiebreaker in set two. He took the tiebreaker in grueling fashion, winning 16-14.
 
He became the second-ever Ichabod to win an ITA regional title, the first since Ryan Ward in 2009.
 
In doubles action, Valarezo Plaza and Hunter took on the team of Youssef Sherif and Jorge Serrano of Northwest Missouri State University. They split the first two sets, the Ichabods taking set one 6-3, then the Bearcats taking set two 6-3. In the tiebreaker set, Valarezo Plaza and Hunter upset the Northwest duo 10-7.
 
This was the first doubles ITA regional title claimed by the Ichabods since 2005, with the team of Rutger Vliegenberg and Andrew Plum.
 
Valarezo Plaza and Hunter will head to the ITA Oracle Cup, where they will have the chance to take home NCAA Division II National Championships. The tournament will take place in Rome, Georgia from Oct. 11-15.