First Serve … 

• The No. 25 Washburn Ichabods (3-1) head down to the Lone Star State for a pair of matches this weekend.
• The Ichabods take on Southern Arkansas (3-0) on Friday, Feb. 15 at Frank Seale Middle School in Midlothian, Texas. The match is scheduled to commence at 4 p.m.
• The following morning, Washburn is set to face Dallas Baptist (3-1) at Keist Park in Dallas, Texas. First serve will be at 11 a.m.

Last Week …

• The Ichabods defeated Oklahoma Baptist 6-1 in the dual match held on Feb. 9.
• Washburn claimed the doubles point by winning matches at the 2 and 3 slot. 
• Chase Brill / Marc Roura Casi won 7-5 and Raul-Alin Dicu / Bradley Eidenmueller posted a 6-3 victory.
• In singles competition, Washburn won the first three matches at the top half of the order to guarantee the team victory. 
• Paul Haase got things started for the Ichabods with his 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles.
• Both the No. 1 and No. 2 matches were three set battles that Washburn claimed. Alejandro Valarezo Plaza won at the top of the order followed by Dicu's dual clinching victory.
• Brill moved up to the No. 5 spot and improved to 4-0 in singles competition and 11-2 overall.
• Roura Casi wrapped up the winning day for the Ichabods with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph at No. 6 singles.

Scouting the Opposition ...
Southern Arkansas Muleriders

• Southern Arkansas is in its first season since 1992-93 as both the men's and women's tennis programs were revived for the 2018-19 campaign.
• Greg Owen was tabbed as the head coach to restart both programs. Prior to joining SAU, Owen was the head coach at Seward Community College for two full successful seasons and coached at Midlothian (Texas) High School for six years.
• The team entered the spring season ranked eighth in the Central Region.
• The Muleriders are off to a 3-0 start and have allowed just one point in those three matches.
• This will be the first meeting between the two teams.

Dallas Baptist Patriots

• The Patriots completed the 2017-18 season with a record of 15-7 but were held winless in the Heartland Conference, going 0-4.
• Wade Morgan is in his second year as the men's and women's head coach. 
• DBU is 3-1 to start the spring season with its one loss coming in the first match of the season, falling to Harding 4-0.
• Washburn is 5-0 all-time when facing Dallas Baptist.

Nationally Ranked Ichabods …

• For the second consecutive year, the Ichabods will start the spring season nationally ranked. The team checks in at No. 25 on the latest Oracle/ITA Division II national poll.
• In addition to the team ranking, Washburn also has players appearing in the national listing. 
• The doubles team of Valarezo Plaza / Haase are ranked third in all of Division II.
• Valarezo Plaza is No. 13 in men's singles.

Regional Rankings Abound …

• The Ichabods are ranked No. 2 in the Central Region, trailing only MIAA rival Southwest Baptist.
• Washburn represents three of the top-10 doubles teams in the region. 
• The tandem of Valarezo Plaza and Haase hold down the No. 1 ranking in men's doubles.
• Bradley Eidenmueller / Raul-Alin Dicu and Chase Brill / Marc Roura Casi are ranked back-to-back at seventh and eighth.
• In singles, Valarezo Plaza is ranked second and Haase checks in at 10th. Dicu also made the top-20 with his No. 16 ranking.
• In addition to the regional and national rankings, Washburn was selected second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

'Bods and Ends …

• Valarezo Plaza was named the MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week for his performance against Oklahoma Baptist.
• With his win at No. 1 singles against OBU, Valarezo Plaza tied Washburn's all-time career singles record at 78-29.
• The current all-time record in singles was set by Santiago Giraldo (1993-97) who finished his time at Washburn with a record of 78-20.
• Valarezo Plaza is also one win away from tying the program's record in career doubles. He currently holds a record of 91-18 in doubles competition.
• Brill improved his season singles record to 11-2 and remains perfect in dual action at 4-0.
• Lance Lysaught surpassed 50 wins as the men's head coach and posted his 51st victory against Oklahoma Baptist.

Coach Lance Lysaught …

• is in his fifth season as the head coach of the men's and women's Washburn tennis teams.
• has coached the Washburn men to a 51-29 overall record and is 9-11 in MIAA matches.
• led the Ichabods to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round in 2018, the first time the program had advanced beyond the national round of 16.
• was tabbed to start up the men's and women's tennis programs at Ottawa University in 2012 where he was the head coach for two seasons.
• is a former Washburn student-athlete who played tennis for the Ichabods from 1987-91.
• was a two-time District 10 singles champion and an NAIA national qualifier in both singles and doubles over his tenure as a player.

By the numbers after four seasons coaching both Washburn men and women
7: All-American awards
5: ITA Central Region Championship titles
1: ITA Women's singles National Champion
1: MIAA Most Valuable Player
33: All-MIAA selections
3: NCAA National Tournament appearances
51: MIAA Academic Honor Roll selections