FIRST SERVE

• The Ichabods head to Oklahoma for two conference matchups, starting with a 2 p.m. match against Central Oklahoma on Friday in Edmond, Okla. Washburn will then face Northeastern State on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Tahlequah, Okla.
• Central Oklahoma holds the 9-4 edge over Washburn in the all-time series. The squads last played on March 1, 2020, when the Bronchos swept the Ichabods, 4-0.
• Northeastern State has a 16-1 advantage over Washburn in the all-time record. The teams last played on April 5, 2019, when the Ichabods took a 4-3 victory over the Riverhawks.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Washburn improved its record to 9-0 overall after taking two 7-0 sweeps against Newman and Emporia State to start conference play last weekend.
• Against Newman, the Ichabods swept the doubles point and then went on to sweep singles action. Maria Soler Valverde won the first singles point by 6-3, 6-0 at the No. 3 spot. Svea Crohn won the third singles point to clinch the Washburn win by 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 at the second spot. Cadence Lynn ensured the 7-0 sweep from the bottom of the lineup as she defeated her opponent by 6-1, 6-0. 
• The Ichabods swept the doubles point against Emporia State to start the match. In singles action, Washburn swept the Hornets in order, starting with a 6-0, 6-1 victory by Marta Torres at the top of the lineup. Soler Valverde clinched the win at the No. 3 spot by scores of 6-1, 6-3. Sydnee Foster battled at the bottom of the lineup to ensure the Ichabod sweep of the Hornets, ultimately defeating her opponent by scores of 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (12-10).

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

• No. 5 Central Oklahoma holds a 9-1 record (2-0 in MIAA play) this season after a 4-0 sweep against No. 17 Midwestern State on Wednesday.
• The Bronchos return six from last year's roster while welcoming in two newcomers.
• Central Oklahoma's No. 1 singles starter Adel-Byanu Abidullina holds a 9-1 record this season.
• The Bronchos are led by Jaron Maestas in his fifth season as head coach.
• Central Oklahoma was tabbed first in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Northeastern State sits at 6-4 this season (2-0 in MIAA play) following a 5-2 victory over Nebraska-Kearney on March 28. They will host Northwest Missouri on Friday prior to Saturday's match with the Ichabods.
• The Riverhawks return five from last year's roster and welcome three newcomers.
• Vera Carvalho has a team-best 6-1 singles record playing mainly from the No. 5 spot.
• Northeastern State is headed by Tim McLane in his first season as head coach.
• The Riverhawks were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

 
CHECKING IN WITH THE BODS

• Freshman Maja Jung continues to make a stellar first impression as she has gone 9-0 in singles action to start the season. Jung is also 7-1 in doubles action with partner Kinsey Fields, playing from the No. 2 spot.
• Maria Soler Valverde holds a 7-0 record playing mainly from the third spot in the lineup. 
• Freshman Marta Torres is also off to a great start with a 7-2 record. Torres has recently been moved up to the No. 1 spot, where she has a perfect 4-0 record. She was also moved up to No. 1 doubles with partner Logan Morrissey where they have gone 3-0. Torres is 6-3 overall in doubles action.
• Morrissey has a 7-1 record in doubles action at the top of the lineup, as she has gone 3-0 with Torres and 4-1 record with Svea Crohn.

 
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 return home to host Missouri Western on April 9 at 2 p.m. Washburn will play host to Southern Arkansas on April 10 at 1 p.m.