TOPEKA, Kan. -- The eighth-ranked Washburn women's tennis team's historic season came to a close Tuesday afternoon as the Ichabods fell to No. 24 Northwest Missouri, 4-1, in the NCAA Central Region final. Washburn concludes the season with a record of 22-4.

The Ichabods started strong in doubles play and took an early 1-0 lead with victories on courts one and three. The top-ranked duo in the nation, Alexis Czapinski and Logan Morrissey, knocked off No. 15 Tania Teruel and Marta Ferrando, 6-2. Czapinski and Morrissey finish the 2018-19 campaign with an overall record of 29-6, tied for the most doubles victories in one season by an Ichabod, and went 21-4 at No. 1 doubles. Maria Soler Valverde and Kinsey Fields clinched the doubles point with a solid 6-4 performance at the No. 3 spot, improving their season record to 16-4. The match at No. 2 doubles was neck and neck, but went unfinished once Washburn clinched the point.

The singles competition was a battle by both teams, but the Bearcats found a way to win four matches to clinch the 4-1 victory. Northwest Missouri posted victories on courts five, one, three, and four with two of those matches being stretched to the third frame. Northwest Missouri (19-6), the six-seed in the tournament, will advance to the NCAA National Tournament in Altamonte Springs, Fla. next week.

Season notes

• The Ichabods finish their season ranked-eighth in Division II and three players ranked nationally in singles as well as holding the No. 1 ranking in doubles.
• Czapinski is currently ranked fourth in the nation in singles.
• ITA All-American awards will be announced on May 29 and will be given to singles players ranked in the top-20 and doubles teams ranked in the top-10.
• As a team, the Ichabods have been ranked in the ITA national poll since Feb. 20 and reached as high as No. 5 on three separate occasions.
• Washburn's 22 wins is tied for the most ever in program history, last occurring in 2003-04.
• The Ichabods claimed the MIAA regular season title with a perfect 9-0 record.
• Washburn put together a 15 match winning streak this season.
   

Singles competition
1. #17 Recuenco, Irene (NWMSU) def. #4 Czapinski,Alexis (WU) 6-2, 6-4
2. #27 Engelbrecht,Jacqueline (WU) vs. Teruel, Tania (NWMSU) 6-7, 3-5, unfinished
3. Ferrando, Marta (NWMSU) def. #49 Soler Valverde,Maria (WU) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
4. #57 Aliseda, Julia (NWMSU) def. Morrissey,Logan (WU) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
5. Rinderknech, Julie (NWMSU) def. Crohn,Svea (WU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Lysaught,Madison (WU) vs. Grozdanovic, Sara (NWMSU) 4-6, 6-4, 3-0, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. #1 Czapinski,Alexis/Morrissey,Logan (WU) def. #15 Teruel, Tania/Ferrando, Marta (NWMSU) 6-2
2. Engelbrecht,Jacqueline/Crohn,Svea (WU) vs. Recuenco, Irene/Aliseda, Julia (NWMSU) 5-6, unfinished
3. Soler Valverde,Maria/Fields,Kinsey (WU) def. Grozdanovic, Sara/Rinderknech, Julie (NWMSU) 6-4
 
Match notes
Northwest Missouri State 19-6; National ranking #24
Washburn 22-4; National ranking #8
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (5,1,3,4)
NCAA Central Region II Final Match
NWMSU: No. 6 tournament seed
WU: No. 2 tournament seed
A-273