First Serve … 

• The Washburn men's tennis team (7-4, 0-1 MIAA) is set for the 121st all-time meeting against longtime rival Emporia State (6-4, 0-1 MIAA) on Sunday, March 31st.
• The MIAA match will be held at the Emporia High School tennis courts with the first serve scheduled for noon.

Last Time Out …

• The Ichabods had an impressive showing on March 23 as they won every singles and doubles match en route to sweeping regional opponent Augustana, 7-0.
• Washburn jumped to a quick 1-0 lead after taking the doubles point.
• On court No. 1, Alejandro Valarezo Plaza and Paul Haase topped their opponents, 6-2.
• Luke Howard/Raul-Alin Dicu and Chase Brill/Bradley Eidenmueller posted a pair of 6-3 victories.
• The Ichabods continued to dominate in singles action.
• Valarezo Plaza and Dicu both won their matches by the score of 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 1 and 2 slot.
• Haase clinched the match at No. 3 singles with his 6-1, 6-3 triumph.
• Once the dual was clinched, the final three singles were played as an eight game pro set.
• Eidenmueller and Howard added to their individual win totals with 8-4 decisions. 
• At No. 5, Brill topped his opponent 8-6.

Scouting the Opposition ...

Emporia State Hornets

• Emporia State concluded the 2017-18 season losing four of its last five matches and finished with a record of 11-7 (1-4 MIAA).
• To start the 2018-19 campaign, the Hornets were tabbed fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and selected ninth in the Central Region.
• Emporia State is currently 6-4 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA.
• The Hornets have won their last two matches with 7-0 sweeps over Friends University and Augustana.
• Washburn holds a decisive 89-30-1 lead in the all-time series against Emporia State. 
• The Ichabods have won the last three consecutive matches.

Nationally Ranked Ichabods …

• As a team, the Ichabods are ranked 47th in Division II.
• In addition to the team ranking, two players remain ranked in the ITA national ranking.
• The doubles team of Valarezo Plaza / Haase stay put as the second-ranked duo in all of Division II.
• Valarezo Plaza checked in as the No. 12-ranked men's singles player.
• The national rankings will 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. 
• 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 on March 25. He has received the weekly conference honor three times this season and eight total times in his career.
• With the sweep over Augustana, the Ichabods posted their third shut out victory of the season.
• Brill and Haase are both one win away from recording their 50th career singles victory.
• The Ichabods have played the Hornets more times than any other opponent.
• The first-ever matchup between these two schools was back in 1924 and Washburn won, 2-1.

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 55-32 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