TOPEKA, Kan. -- The No. 6 Washburn women's tennis team defeated their third nationally ranked opponent of the season Friday afternoon with a 4-3 victory over the No. 44 Northeastern State RiverHawks. After winning the doubles point, Washburn's bottom half of the singles lineup came through with victories to secure the team win. The Ichabods extend their winning streak to 11-straight matches and move up to 16-1 (6-0 MIAA) this season.

The RiverHawks, reigning MIAA champions, are now 7-7 (5-2 MIAA). The 4-3 win gives Washburn the first-ever victory against Northeastern State and snaps a 16 match losing streak.

Northeastern State won the first doubles match at the third court, but Washburn stormed back and won the remaining two to claim the doubles point. The fourth-ranked duo of Alexis Czapinski and Logan Morrissey took down the No. 37 team of Tatjana Stoll and Mayra Jovic, 6-4, at No. 1 doubles. On court two, Jacqueline Engelbrecht and Svea Crohn snatched the doubles point with their 6-4 victory.

The singles competition was highly contested by both teams, with several players ranked in the top-50 in the ITA National rankings. Maria Soler Valverde, who is ranked 46th in the nation, won her 12th straight match at No. 4 singles with a 6-1, 6-3 decision. Crohn also won her match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, at the No. 5 slot. The RiverHawks answered with two victories of their own at No. 2 and No. 3, cutting Washburn's lead to 3-2. After losing her first set 1-6, Madison Lysaught fought her way back into the match and won the next two sets, 6-4, 6-1, to clinch the match for the Ichabods on court No. 6.

The Ichabods return to their home courts for the final time tomorrow (Saturday, April 6) to celebrate senior day and to take part in a top-10 showdown against No. 7 Central Oklahoma. Czapinski, Engelbrecht, Ally Burr, and MaKenna Gonzales will be recognized at 9:50 a.m. for their contributions to Washburn tennis. The match is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the Washburn Tennis Complex.
 

Singles competition
1. #29 Stoll,Tatjana (NSU) def. #18 Engelbrecht,Jacqueline (WU) 6-4, 7-6 (6-3)
2. #21 Jovic,Mayra (NSU) def. #3 Czapinski,Alexis (WU) 0-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Gombarova,Betka (NSU) def. Morrissey,Logan (WU) 7-6 (6-3), 7-5
4. #46 Soler Valverde,Maria (WU) def. Vidnere,Kristela (NSU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Crohn,Svea (WU) def. Tomaic,Karla (NSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Lysaught,Madison (WU) def. Vera,Melissa (NSU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. #4 Morrissey,Logan/Czapinski,Alexis (WU) def. #37 Stoll,Tatjana/Jovic,Mayra (NSU) 6-4
2. Engelbrecht,Jacqueline/Crohn,Svea (WU) def. Vidnere,Kristela/Gombarova,Betka (NSU) 6-4
3. Vera,Melissa/Warnock,Emma (NSU) def. Fields,Kinsey/Soler Valverde,Maria (WU) 6-3

Match notes
Washburn: 16-1 (6-0 MIAA); National ranking #6
Northeastern State: 7-7 (5-2 MIAA); National ranking #44
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,5,2,3,6,1)