FIRST SERVE

• The Ichabods are set to host two conference matchups at home this weekend, starting with a 1 p.m. match against Newman on Saturday. Washburn will then host Emporia State at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
• Washburn holds the 6-2 edge over Newman in the all-time series. The squads last played on March 3, 2019, when the Ichabods swept the Jets, 7-0.
• The Ichabods also hold a 34-21 advantage over Emporia State in the all-time record. The teams last played on April 31, 2019, when Washburn took a 5-2 victory over the Hornets.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Washburn holds a perfect 7-0 record to start the season, after a 7-0 sweep of Rockhurst on March 20.
• The Ichabods began the match by sweeping the Hawks in doubles action. Svea Crohn and Maria Soler Valverde started it off with a 6-0 sweep from the third spot. The duo of Marta Torres and Logan Morrissey defeated their opponent, 6-2, from the top spot of the lineup. Then, the No. 2 court of Maja Jung and Kinsey Fields sealed the sweep with a 6-3 victory.
• In singles action, Cadence Lynn won the Ichabods first point with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 sweep at the bottom of the lineup. Jung then defeated her opponent by scored of 6-2, 6-0 from the fifth court before Soler Valverde clinched the Washburn win with a 6-1, 6-0 victory at the No. 3 spot.
• Playing at the top of the lineup, Torres defeated her opponent by 6-1, 6-2. Crohn then took a 6-4, 6-0 victory from the second spot, before Morrissey ensured the Ichabods' 7-0 sweep of the Hawks with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 victory from the No. 4 spot.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

• Newman holds a 6-2 record this season after a 6-1 loss to Barton Community College on March 19. The team will face Northwest Missouri State on Friday, prior to the matchup with Washburn on Saturday.
• The Jets return four from last year's roster while welcoming in four newcomers.
• Newman's No. 1 singles starter holds a 5-2 record this season.
• The Jets are led by Shella Augspurger in her17th season as head coach.
• Newman was tabbed eighth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Emporia State sits at 5-0 this season following a 7-0 sweep of Midland University on March 22. They will face off against Northwest Missouri on Saturday prior to Sunday's match with the Ichabods.
• The Hornets return six from last year's roster and welcome one newcomer.
• Cyrielle Peyroche has a team-best 4-1 singles record playing from the No. 3 spot.
• Emporia State is led by Les Stafford in his second season as head coach.
• The Hornets were picked to finish seventh in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

 
CHECKING IN WITH THE BODS

• Freshman Maja Jung has made a stellar first impression as she has gone 7-0 in singles action to start the season. Jung is also 5-1 in doubles action with partner Kinsey Fields, playing from the No. 2 spot.
• Maria Soler Valverde holds a 5-0 record playing mainly from the third spot in the lineup. 
• Freshman Marta Torres is also off to a great start with a 5-2 record, mostly from the No. 2 spot. Torres also has a 3-3 doubles record with partner Cadence Lynn from the third spot in the lineup.
• No. 2 regionally ranked duo of Svea Crohn and Logan Morrissey have a 4-1 record from the No. 1 spot.

 
ICHABODS IN THE RANKINGS

• The Ichabods are ranked No. 19 in the latest updated ITA rankings, last updated on March 23, 2021. The team is ranked second in the central regional rankings.
• 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 head to Oklahoma for two conference matchups next week. Washburn will face Central Oklahoma on April 2 at 2 p.m. before going head-to-head with Northeastern State on April 3 at 1 p.m.