FIRST SERVE

• Washburn men's tennis will open MIAA play at home this weekend, hosting Newman at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Emporia State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
• The Ichabods have a 11-1 advantage in the all-time series against Newman. The teams last faced off on March 2, 2019, when the Ichabods defeated the Jets, 5-2.
• Washburn also have an 89-30-1 record over Emporia State. They last played each other on April 5, 2018, when the Ichabods defeated the Hornets, 7-2.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• The Ichabods improved to a 7-2 record, following a 6-1 victory over Rockhurst on March 20.
• Washburn swept doubles action to start off the match. Raul-Alin Dicu/Daniel Bird took a 6-1 win from the No. 3 spot. The duo of Paul Haase and Miquel Perez then defeated their opponents, 6-3, from the second spot. Bradley Eidenmueller and Sebastian Pjontek finished off doubles action with a 6-3 victory from the top of the lineup. 
• In singles play, Haase won the first point by a 6-1, 6-0 victory from the second court. Eidenmueller followed with a 6-2, 6-3 win from the fourth spot in the lineup. Pjontek then clinched a Washburn victory with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) win from the No. 3 spot.
• After Perez fell from the top spot, Miller Zeiders defeated his opponent by scores of 6-4, 6-4 from the bottom of the lineup. Marc Roura Casi closed out the match with a 6-3, 6-3 win from the fifth spot to ensure the 6-1 Washburn victory over Rockhurst.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

• Newman holds a 7-4 record this season after a 4-3 loss to Barton Community College on March 19. Newman will face Northwest Missouri on March 26, prior to the match against Washburn the next day.
• The Jets return five from last year's roster while welcoming in five newcomers.
• Newman's No. 1 singles starter Arthur Esteves Justo holds a 6-3 record this season. In doubles action, him and partner Gustavo Gil have an 8-3 record.
• The Hawks were picked to place third in the north division of the MIAA-GAC Preseason Poll.
• Newman is headed by Shella Augspurger in her 17th season as head coach.
• Emporia State has a 6-0 record this season after a 5-2 win over Midland University. Emporia State will face Northwest Missouri on March 27 before the match against Washburn the following day.
• The Hornets return five from last year's roster while welcoming in four newcomers.
• Emporia State's No. 1 singles starter Luiz Maia has a 3-3 overall record this season. 
• In doubles action, the duo of Andy Graf and Taylor Nelson hold a 5-1 record at the top spot.
• The Hornets were picked to finish fourth in the north division of the MIAA Preseason Poll.
• Emporia State is coached by Les Stafford in his second season.

 
CHECKING IN WITH THE BODS

• Paul Haase leads the Ichabods with a 7-1 singles record this season. Haase also has a 6-3 doubles record. With partner Miquel Perez, he has earned a 4-1 doubles record from the second spot.
• Raul-Alin Dicu and doubles partner Daniel Bird have earned a 5-2 record from the No. 3 spot. 
• Along with a 5-2 record in doubles, newcomer Bird has gone a perfect 5-0 in singles action to make a commanding first impression on the Washburn team.
• Bradley Eidenmueller is off to a 6-0 start in singles action, playing mainly at the No. 4 spot. Eidenmueller is 6-3 in doubles action. With partner Sebastian Pjontek, they have gone 4-1 from the No. 1 doubles spot.
• Playing at the bottom of the lineup, Miller Zeiders holds a perfect 4-0 record so far.

 
ICHABODS IN THE RANKINGS

• The Ichabods are ranked No. 18 in the nation according to the most recent ITA national team rankings released on March 23, 2021. Regionally, they are ranked first in the central region.
• Individually, two Ichabods were listed in the top-20 of the Central Region singles rankings, which was last updated April 15, 2020. Raul-Alin Dicu was ranked at No. 16, while Paul Haase checked in at No. 19.
• The Ichabods were picked second in the north division in the MIAA/GAC Preseason Coaches Poll, released on February 5, 2021. The team gathered three-first place votes and 26 points total.

 
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

• Washburn will continue its extended home stretch as the team hosts Southern Arkansas on April 10 at 1 p.m.