BOLIVAR, Mo. – The 27^th-ranked Ichabod men's tennis team saw its remarkable season come to a close with a 5-2 loss to No. 23 Southwest Baptist Saturday afternoon.

The third-seeded Washburn tennis team made its first appearance in the NCAA Central Regional under head coach Lance Lysaught and its first since the 2012-13 season.

The Ichabods faced a deficit early on after dropping No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. 12^th-ranked duo Alejandro Valarezo and Blake Hunter defeated the 14^th-ranked SBU doubles pairing of Sherif Abohabaga and Chris Blodig in an 8-3 decision. Paul Haase and Chase Brill dropped a heartbreaking match at No. 3 doubles 9-8 after dropping an 8-6 tiebreak. Matt Barlow and Tommy Hunter were defeated 8-6 at the second slot.

Facing an uphill battle, the Ichabods shifted focus to singles play. Southwest Baptist lost little steam and picked up two quick wins, extending its lead to four.

Brill dropped his match in straight sets at No. 6 singles in a 6-2, 6-2 decision.

31^st-ranked Valarezo was defeated in two at No. 1 singles by seventh-ranked Abohabaga 6-2, 6-4.

With Washburn trailing 4-1 at this point, freshman Paul Haase notched a win at the fourth slot in attempts to halt the Bearcat momentum. Haase defeated Raul Cabalero in a 7-6, 6-0 decision.

Southwest Baptist would clinch the NCAA Central Regional with a win at No. 2 singles over Blake Hunter 7-5, 6-4.

Barlow was leading 7-6 in the second frame after dropping the opening set 6-3. Tommy Hunter was well into a third frame after splitting the first two sets 6-3, 6-0.

Washburn closes the book on its most successful season in recent memory after notching four wins over ranked opponents highlighted by a victory over Division I Wichita State. The Ichabods placed five netters on the all-MIAA men's tennis team, including Co-Freshman of the Year Chase Brill and First Team selections Barlow, Blake Hunter, and Valarezo.