MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Washburn men's tennis team fell in it conference opener to Northwest Missouri State 7-2 Wednesday afternoon at the Frank Grube tennis courts in Maryville, Mo..

Alejandro Valarezo and Blake Hunter put the Ichabods on the board first with a win at No. 1 doubles, but due to losses at No. 2 and No.3 doubles the Washburn lead would be short lived. Tommy Hunter and Matt Barlow were outlasted by Bearcat netters Jorge Serrano and Romain Boissinot 8-3. Paul Haase and Chase Brill were defeated by Josef Altmann and Aymeric Autones 8-4. Northwest Missouri State would to head into singles action with a 2-1 advantage.

NWMS carried its momentum into singles action winning five of six courts. Tommy Hunter was defeated in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 by Josef Altmann.

Brill was defeated in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 by Northwest netter Fin Glowick.

Haase dropped his match at No. 5 singles to  Autones in a heartbreaking fashion 6-3, 7-6 (4) to clinch the match for Northwest Missouri State.

Valarezo was ousted in a three-set thriller by Boissinot at No. 1 singles 7-6, 4-6, 12-10.

Sergie Fontcuberta defeated Blake Hunter 6-2, 6-4 at No. 2 singles.

Barlow picked up the Ichabods lone singles point in a win over Bearcat netter Mauro Tete 6-3, 6-4.

Washburn falls to 7-2 on the season and will return to action on March 10 when it heads to Wichita, Kan. for a matchup with No. 49 Colorado Mesa.