First serve . . . 

• The 35th-ranked Washburn Ichabod are set to makes its third appearance in the MIAA Tournament this week under head coach Lance Lysaught where they will meet with Southwest Baptist for the third time in as many years.

 • Washburn is coming off of its best season under head coach Lance Lysaught after posting a 15-3 record overall including 3-2 in MIAA action.

 •  Washburn is coming off one of the biggest wins in program history of Division I Wichita State in a 4-3 decision, as well as marquee victories over No. 49 Colorado Mesa, No. 44 Missouri-St. Louis, and No. 21 Nebraska-Kearney.

•   Washburn closed out its home slate with a perfect 7-0  record at the Washburn Tennis Complex. 

•  Washburn trails the all-time series with the Bearcats 13-25 after last beating SBU in its season finale last season and dropping the next match with them in the openning round of the 2016 MIAA Tournamant.

• Washburn met the Bearcats earlier this season and was defeated 2-5 in Bolivar, Mo.

 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 MIAA tournament with a overall record of 20-9 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 21-5 record his final 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 . . . 

• John Bryant is in his 51st season at the helm of the SBU men's tennis program.

•  The Bearcats are 11-3 this season after winning three of its last five matches.

• SBU is second in the central region in the most recent NCAA Regional Ranking as well as a two-seed in the MIAA tournament.

 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 42-41 as a men's collegiate head coach in his fifth season and 33-20 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.