First Serve …Â
- The Washburn men's tennis team (6-4, 0-1 MIAA) returns home for a non-conference match against Augustana University (6-7) on Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m.
- The match is currently scheduled to be held at the Washburn Tennis Complex, but will be moved indoors to the Topeka Country Club if it rains.
- For the latest updates, make sure to check the tennis schedules on wusports.com and follow @wusports on Twitter.
Last Time Out …
- The Ichabods opened MIAA action with a 5-2 loss to the Northwest Missouri Bearcats on March 21 in Maryville, Mo.
- Washburn won the doubles point after taking two of the three matches played.
- Chase Brill and Bradley Eidenmueller posted a 6-2 victory at No. 3.
- On court No. 1, Alejandro Valarezo Plaza and Paul Haase clinched the doubles point for the Ichabods with a 6-1 victory.
- In singles action, the Bearcats clawed their way back into the dual and won five of six matches. Washburn put up a strong fight and extended four of the matches to all three sets.Â
- Eidenmueller posted his 10th singles victory of the season with his 6-1, 6-4 triumph at No. 5.
- The Ichabods fell to 6-4 (0-1 MIAA) while the Bearcats moved up to 6-4 (2-0 MIAA).
Scouting the Opposition ...
Augustana University Vikings (S.D.)
- Augustana completed the 2017-18 campaign with a record of 7-9.Â
- The Vikings are currently 6-7 with their most recent win coming against Millersville, 4-3.
- The team is 2-1 when playing on the road this season.
- Marc Kurtz is in his 14th season as the head coach of the Augustana men's and women's teams. He has compiled a 77-131 record on the men's side.
- The two teams have met only once previously. Washburn swept the match, 5-0, on March 31, 2006.
Nationally Ranked Ichabods …
- Two Ichabods moved up in the most recent ITA national listing.Â
- The doubles team of Valarezo Plaza / Haase are now ranked second in all of Division II.
- Valarezo Plaza moved up five spots to become the No. 8-ranked player nationally in men's singles.
- The ITA national rankings will now be released every Wednesday until May 1.
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.Â
- 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 …
- Washburn is 3-1 when playing at home this season.
- Eidenmueller has won three of the last four singles matches he's played.Â
- He recorded his 10th victory of the season against Northwest Missouri to move to 10-7 on the year.Â
- Valarezo Plaza is one win away from reaching his 95th career doubles victory.
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 54-32 overall record and is 9-12 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
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