First serve . . . 

• The 27th-ranked Washburn Ichabod are set to makes its first appearance in the NCAA Regional since the 2012-13 season this week under head coach Lance Lysaught where they will meet with Southwest Baptist for the third time this season.

 • Washburn is in the midst of its best season under head coach Lance Lysaught after posting a 16-4 record overall including a trip to the MIAA Championship.

 •  Washburn has posted several marquee victories this season such as its wins over then-No. 21 Nebraska-Kearney, then-No. 44 Missouri-St. Louis, Then-No. 49 Colorado Mesa and its best win in program history over Division I Wichita State.

•   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 14-26 after upsetting No. 2 SBU in the semifinal of the MIAA Championship. 

 Three's Company . . . 

• Alejandro Valarezo leads the Ichabods landing at No. 31 in NCAA Divison II singles and No. 3 in the Central region. The sophomore heads into the MIAA tournament with a overall record of 21-10 at the No. 1 singles position.

• The lone senior and team captain, Matt Barlow, garners a regional singles ranking coming at No. 19 in the Central region after posting a team-best 24-5 record his final season. The senior wides a nine-match win streak into regional play.

•  Blake Hunter is the third Ichabod to boast a regional ranking after jumping into the rankings at No. 17 as well as landing at No. 12 in the national doubles rankings paired with Valarezo.

 All-MIAA and a bag of Chips . . . 

• Washburn placed five members on the MIAA All-MIAA Men's Tennis Team.

• Matt Barlow earned all-MIAA First Team honors for the second time in his career at No. 3 singles.

•  Blake Hunter and Alejandro Valarezo paired up for a First Team selection at No. 1 doubles. 

•  Chase Brill highlighted the selections, earning Co-Freshman of the Year honors as well as a Second Team selection at the sixth slot. Brill also paired up for honorable mention accolades at No. 3 doubles with Paul Haase.

 The Opp . . . 

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

•  The Bearcats are 11-4 this season after falling to the Ichabods in the MIAA Championship Semifinal.

• SBU is second in the central region in the most recent NCAA Regional Ranking as well as a the host school for the Central Regional.

 And The winner is . . . 

•  Matt Barlow is the lastest winner of an MIAA Weekly Award after ending his final regular-season as an Ichabod with a pair of wins against Baker and Rockhurst at No. 3 singles.

• Blake Hunter and Alejandro Valarezo have also earned weekly awards this season.nt 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.

•  Alejandro Valarezo and Blake Hunter are the most recent Ichabod to come back from a deficit after posting three set wins against No. 2 SBU in the semifinal win.  

 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 43-42 as a men's collegiate head coach in his fifth season and 34-21 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.