First serve . . . 

• The 35th-ranked Washburn Ichabod close an impressive 2016-17 regular season this week with matches against Baker and Rockhurst.

•  Washburn is coming off one of the biggest wins in program history of Division I Wichita State in a 4-3 decision.

• Washburn is closing out its best season under head coach Lance Lysaught with only three losses and a qaurtet of marquee wins against Wichita State, No. 49 Colorado Mesa, No. 44 Missouri-St. Louis and No. 21 Nebraska-Kearney.

•   Washburn is a perfect 6-0 at the Washburn Tennis Complex. 

•  Washburn leads the all-time series with the Wildcats 27-21-1 and also leads the all-time series with the Hawks 14-13

 Tip of the hat . . . 

• Wednesday marks the final home match for outstanding senior, Matt Barlow. 

• The Abilene, Kan. native holds an overall singles record of 54-21, including a 14-8 record at No. 2 singles, 23-9 at No. 3 singles, and 17-9 in tournament play.

•  In doubles, Barlow holds an overall record of 46-24 with a 7-8 mark at No. 1, 25-10 at No. 2, and 14-6 in tournament play.

 Three's Company . . . 

• Alejandro Valarezo leads the Ichabods landing at No. 31 in NCAA Divison II singles and No. 2 in the Central region. The sophomore heads into the match with a 18-9 at the No. 1 singles position.

• The lone senior and team captain, Matt Barlow, garners a regional singles ranking coming at No. 14 in the Central region after posting a 19-5 record this season .

•  Blake Hunter is the third Ichabod to boast a regional ranking after jumping into the rankings at No. 13 as well as landing at No. 2 in the regional doubles rankings paired with Valarezo.

The Opp . . . 

• Keith Pipkin is in his 1st season at the helm of the Baker men's tennis program.

•  The Wildcats are 6-6 this season after winning three of its last five matches.

• Rockhurst is 10-5 this season after picking up three of its last five matches.

 And The winner is . . . 

•  Blake Hunter is the lastest winner of an MIAA Weekly Award after securing the Ichabods victory over Wichita State in a three set thriller.

• Matt Barlow has also earned a pair of weekly awards this season, and Alejandro Valarezo has notched one as well.

 Tournament success. . .

•  The Ichabods closed out the 2016 calendar year with each player picking up at least one flight victory in tournament play.

• Alejandro Valarezo ended 2016 with a spot in the ITA Central Regional singles final after a stellar victory over the defending champion in the semifinal.

 The Comeback kids . . . 

•  Five Ichabods have staged and successfully carried out comeback wins this season.

•  Chase Brill is the most recent Ichabod to come back from a deficit after posting a three set win at No. 6 singles in the win over Missouri-St. Louis.  

 High Ranking, No Problem . . . 

• Washburn has now posted three wins over ranked oppoonents for the first time under head coach Lance Lysaught and perhaps its best win has come against Division I Wichita State.

 Coaching. . . 

•   Former Ichabod tennis player Lance Lysaught is in his third season at the helm of the Ichabodmen's tennis program. He is 40-41 as a men's collegiate head coach in his fifth season and 31-20 at Washburn.

•   Washburn added former Washburn men's tennis standout, David Price, as the assistant coach to both the men and women's teams during the offseason.

 Up next . . . 

•   Washburn will await seeding for the 2017 MIAA Tournament being held in Lincoln, Neb.