First Serve … 

• The Washburn men's tennis team (9-4, 1-1 MIAA) will travel to Kansas City, Mo., to play Rockhurst (10-7, 3-0 GLVC) this Sunday, April 7.
• The dual match is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at Loyola Park.

Last Time Out …

• The Ichabods wrapped up the home portion of their schedule with their third-straight victory after the 7-0 sweep of William Jewell on April 2.
• Washburn dominated and won every doubles and singles match.
• The Ichabods rolled through the doubles competition and quickly took a 1-0 lead. 
• Luke Howard / Raul-Alin Dicu and Bradley Eidenmueller / Chase Brill blanked their opponents, 6-0. 
• Alejandro Valarezo Plaza and Paul Haase completed the sweep, winning 6-2.
• The Ichabods saw similar success in the singles portion of the dual. 
• At the top of the order, Valarezo Plaza got things started with a 6-0, 6-1 win. 
• Haase notched a 6-1, 6-1 triumph at No. 3 singles. 
• After dropping the first set, Dicu battled back to clinch the match with his three set 5-7, 6-4, 6-0 rally. 
• Eidenmueller won at the No. 5 slot, 6-2, 6-2 and Marc Roura Casi also won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, at No. 4. 
• Howard completed the sweep for Washburn at No. 6 singles, losing just one game in the eight game pro set, 8-1.
• Washburn improved to 9-4 while the Cardinals dropped to 2-15.

Scouting the Opposition ...

Rockhurst Hawks

• The Rockhurst Hawks went 14-7 last season and split their GLVC matches, 3-3.
• The Hawks are currently 10-7 (3-0 GLVC) and are scheduled to play Baker (2-8) Friday afternoon and then Drury (9-4) on Saturday.
• The Hawks' tandem of Tarass Thevanaz and Martijn Eleveld are ranked 26th in Division II men's doubles.
• The duo is 7-0 at No. 1 doubles and 4-1 at the No. 2 slot, compiling a record of 11-1.
• Thevanaz was named the GLVC Player of the Week on April 2. He is 12-5 this season at No. 1 singles.
• Rockhurst's men's and women's tennis programs are led by Carolina Mayorga-Perry, who has coached the Hawks since February 2008.
• Washburn holds a close 15-13 advantage in the all-time series against Rockhurst, winning the last three matches.

Nationally Ranked Ichabods …

• As a team, the Ichabods are ranked 45th 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 are now the third-ranked duo in all of Division II.
• Valarezo Plaza moved up one slot to become the 11th-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.
• The third and final regional rankings will be released on May 22.
• In addition to the regional and national rankings, Washburn was selected second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

'Bods and Ends …

• Valarezo Plaza, a senior, played the final home match of his career on April 2 and was recognized before the match for his accomplishments.
• Over his four seasons with Washburn, he put together an impressive regular season singles record of 23-4 and was 26-1 in doubles action when playing at home.
• Valarezo Plaza also earned his fourth MIAA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week award on April  1. He has received the weekly honor nine times in his career now.
• Roura Casi and Dicu both posted their 10th singles victory of the season.
• Brill is one doubles and singles victory away from acheiving his 50th career win in both categories.
• The Ichabods are 4-1 this season when playing away matches.

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 57-32 overall record and is 10-12 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