FIRST SERVE

• The Ichabods host their home opener against the William Jewell Cardinals on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Genesis Tennis Center in Topeka, Kansas.
• Washburn holds the 5-1 advantage in the all-time record against William Jewell.
• The last time the two teams played each other was April 2, 2019, when the Ichabods swept the Cardinals, 7-0.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Washburn is coming off a 4-3 win over Drury (RV) in its season opener.
• After sweeping the doubles point, the Ichabods quickly fell behind losing the first three singles points. The bottom of the lineup fought back to win back the match. 
• After Maria Soler Valverde and Maja Jung defeated their opponents to tie the score from the No. 4 and 5 spots respectively, it all came down to Cadence Lynn from the sixth spot.
• Lynn lost her first set but battled back to win the next two sets with scores of 6-2 and 6-1 to secure the Washburn victory.

 
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS

• The William Jewell Cardinals played a few matches in the fall and their first match of the spring to give them a 0-4 record. 
• The team returns three from last year's roster - Gillian Evans, Kelly Parrish and Julia Yamate. The Cardinals welcome two newcomers, Julia Cantalino and Michaela Esau.
• Evans currently leads William Jewell with a 3-1 record, mainly playing at the No. 4 spot. AT the top of the lineup, Parrish holds a 2-2 record.
• In doubles action, Parrish and Yamate hold the Cardinals lone doubles win, with a 1-3 record.
• Yamate earned ITA All-Academic honors for the 2019-20 season.

 
CHECKING IN WITH THE BODS

• The Ichabods return six from last year's roster, while welcoming in two newcomers.
• Washburn had three regionally-ranked student-athletes in the final 2020 ITA rankings - Logan Morrissey, Maria Soler Valverde and Svea Crohn - are among the returners and will be key performers for the Ichabods this season.
• Morrissey ended the 2020 season with a 7-7 singles record and a 10-5 doubles record with partner Crohn. Crohn also held a 9-4 record in singles. Soler Valverde had a 9-5 record while playing the No. 1 spot for Washburn.
• Sophomore Kinsey Fields and freshmen Sydnee Foster and Cadence Lynn also rejoin the team this season. Fields went 5-4 in singles and 3-6 in doubles last season, while Sydnee Foster held a 5-3 singles record and 1-4 doubles record. Lynn ended the season with a 4-8 record for singles and 0-5 record for doubles.
• Two newcomers - Maja Jung and Marta Torres - join the team this spring season as true freshmen.

 
ICHABODS IN THE RANKINGS

• The ITA national team rankings were last updated on Feb. 2, 2021.
• Washburn was picked third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, with two first-place votes and 46 points total, released on February 5, 2021.
• The doubles team of Logan Morrissey/Svea Crohn were ranked second in the Central Region according to its last update on April 15, 2020.
• Three Ichabods were also ranked in the top-15 of singles in the Central Region. Maria Soler Valverde checked in at seventh while Morrissey landed in ninth. Crohn rounded out the top-15.

 
HEAD COACH KIRBY RONNING

• Kirby Ronning is in his first season as the Washburn head tennis coach for the Ichabods men's and women's programs after being named to the position on July 23, 2020. Prior to Washburn, Ronning spent four seasons as the assistant coach at Azusa Pacific, where he helped lead the Cougars to multiple NCAA postseason appearances and earned himself both ITA West Region's Men's Tennis Assistant Coach of the Year and Women's Tennis Assistant Coach of the Year. 
• He earned his bachelor's degree in business from Bethel University (Minn) in 2014 and his master's in physical education from Azusa Pacific in May 2020.
• Ronning also played at Bethel for four years, playing primarily at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles position.

 
TAKE A LOOK AHEAD

• The Ichabods hit the road to face Southeastern Oklahoma State on Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. in Tulsa, Okla.
• The team will then host Barton County Community College in an exhibition match on March 5 at 1 p.m.
• Washburn later opens conference play at home against Newman on March 27 at 1 p.m.