First Serve … 

• The 24th-ranked Washburn women's tennis team (10-1, 2-0 MIAA) looks to extend their five match winning streak in Maryville, Mo., against the Northwest Missouri Bearcats (8-2, 2-0 MIAA) on Thursday, March 21.

Last Time Out …

• The match against Harding on March 15 was a face off against two 9-1 teams, but it was Washburn who grabbed the 10th win of the season as the Ichabods improved to 10-1 overall and Harding moved to 9-2.
• Washburn grabbed an early 1-0 lead with doubles victories by No. 2 and 3.
• Jacqueline Engelbrecht and Svea Crohn topped their opponent 6-2.
• At No. 3, Kinsey Fields and Maria Soler Valverde clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win.
• In singles competition, the Ichabods stayed strong and posted four victories down the order to secure the team win.
• Logan Morrissey got things started for the Ichabods at No. 3 as she won 6-3, 6-3 for her 50th career singles victory.
• Alexis Czapinski improved to a perfect 11-0 at the No. 2 slot with her 6-3, 6-2 triumph.
• Soler Valverde rolled to a quick 6-2, 6-1 decision to clinch the team victory at No. 4.
• Rounding out the scoring for Washburn at the top of the order, Engelbrecht rallied back to win a three set thriller 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 for her 50th career singles victory.

Scouting the Opposition …
Northwest Missouri Bearcats

• The Northwest Missouri Bearcats went 10-13 last season and posted a 5-4 record in MIAA action.
• The team entered the new season ranked eighth in the Central Region and sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• The Bearcats are currently off to an 8-2 start and are 2-0 in the MIAA with a pair of 5-2 wins over Missouri Western and Emporia State.
• They are undefeated at home so far this season, 3-0.
• Head coach Mark Rosewell has led the NWMSU men's and women's teams since 1984 and recently recorded his 1,100th career victory.
• Although Northwest Missouri leads the all-time series, 23-14, Washburn has claimed the last three consecutive matches.

Ichabods in the Rankings …

• Washburn is ranked 24th in the nation.
• This is the first time the team has appeared in the top-25 ITA rankings since 2007, when Washburn was ranked 25th in all of Division II.
• As a team, the Ichabods are ranked No. 6 in the Central Region.
• Reflecting their finish at the ITA National Cup, Morrissey and Czapinski will begin the season as the third-ranked doubles team in all of Division II.
• Additionally, the duo also holds down the top ranking in the Central Region. 
• Individually, Engelbrecht is ranked fouth in the region and 28th in the nation.
• Czapinski also joins the region's top-10 list at No. 9 in women's singles.
• Washburn was picked fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

'Bods and Ends …

• Czapinski continues her impressive play at No. 2 singles and is still undefeated. She is now 11-0 in the regular season and 15-2 overall.
• Engelbrecht and Morrissey both earned their 50th career singles victories against Harding.
• The No. 3 doubles team of Fields and Soler Valverde remain unbeaten this spring and are 8-0.
• Washburn's current five match winning streak matches its perfect 5-0 streak to start the season.
• The Ichabods and Bearcats last faced each other at the 2018 MIAA Tournament quarterfinals.Washburn came out on top, 5-3, to advance to the semifinals.

Coach Lance Lysaught …

• is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Washburn men's and women's tennis teams.
• has coached the Washburn women to a 47-45 overall record and is 16-22 in MIAA matches.
• led the Ichabod men to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round in 2018, the first time the program had ever 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