ORLANDO, Fla. – The Washburn men's tennis team fell short against one of the top teams in the country Thursday, losing 7-2 to No. 4 Saint Leo.

The Ichabods ran into a juggernaut Lions team, currently undefeated on the year. The Ichabods were able to capture a victory at the No. 3 slot, where Chase Brill and Paul Haase sat, but ended up falling behind 2-1 after doubles play ended.

In singles, Alejandro Valarezo faced another top-five opponent in Thomas Grinberg, in a rematch of the third-place match in the ITA Oracle Cup. Valarezo ended up losing to Grinberg after going to a first-set tiebreaker, then falling in the second set 6-2. Singles slots 4-6 all went to three sets, with the Ichabods taking one of them. Paul Haase defeated Bruno Babic 6-3, 2-6, 10-8 in No. 4 singles, the lone singles victory the Ichabods had on the day.

The 7-3 Ichabods will go on to face the No. 16 Southwest Baptist Bearcats Sunday. The match will be at noon in Topeka. For the latest schedule updates and more, visit wusports.com.

Singles Competition:
1. Thomas Grinberg (SLM) def. Valarezo Plaza,Aleja (WU) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
2. Vincent Suillerot (SLM) def. Hunter,Blake (WU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Jaime Bueno (SLM) def. Eidenmueller,Brad (WU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Haase,Paul (WU) def. Bruno Babic (SLM) 6-3, 2-6, 10-8
5. Francisco Aparicio (SLM) def. Brill,Chase (WU) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
6. Willem van den Akker (SLM) def. Dicu,Raul-Alin (WU) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
 
Doubles Competition:
1. Thomas Grinberg/Vincent Suillerot (SLM) def. Hunter,Blake/Valarezo Plaza,Aleja (WU) 8-6
2. Willem van den Akker/Jaime Bueno (SLM) def. Hunter,Tommy/Dicu,Raul-Alin (WU) 8-6
3. Brill,Chase/Haase,Paul (WU) def. Bruno Babic/Francisco Aparicio (SLM) 8-6