FIRST SERVE

• No. 18 Washburn women's tennis hits the road for two conference matches this weekend, starting with a Saturday match against Nebraska-Kearney in Kearney, Neb., at 3 p.m. The Ichabods will then face Fort Hays State at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday at Hays, Kan.
• Washburn holds the 15-6 edge over Nebraska-Kearney in the all-time series. The squads last played on March 10, 2019, when the Ichabods defeated the Lopers, 6-1.
• The Ichabods have a 23-9 advantage over the Tigers. The teams last played on March 8, 2019, when Washburn swept Fort Hays State, 7-0.

 
LAST TIME OUT

• Washburn improved to a 12-1 record last weekend after a 5-2 win over Missouri Western and a 5-1 win over Southern Arkansas. Key highlights from the two wins:
• Maria Soler Valverde kept her perfect record as she improved to 11-0 singles record, playing mainly from the third spot. She defeated her Missouri Western by 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 and she earned a 6-4, 6-1 win over her Southern Arkansas opponent.
• Marta Torres defeated the No. 33 nationally-ranked singles player (Missouri Western's Ioanna Lathouri) by scores of 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1.
• The Ichabods continue to dominate in doubles action as they won the doubles point in both matches. 
• Maja Jung climbed to 12-1 in singles as she took down her Missouri Western opponent by 6-0, 6-2 and her Southern Arkansas opponent by set scores of 6-1, 6-1.
• Soler Valverde and Crohn are a great match at No. 3 doubles as they defeated their Griffons' opposition by 6-1 and Muleriders' opponents by 6-2 to improve to 6-1 as a duo.
• Cadence Lynn keeps on battling and perservering at the bottom of the lineup as she took a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory against the Missouri Western opposition.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS

• Nebraska-Kearney has a 4-10 record (1-3 in MIAA play) this season after a 4-3 loss to Northwest Missouri on Wednesday. 
• The Lopers' roster consists of four returners and three newcomers.
• Melisa Becerra leads the team with a 7-8 record, playing mostly from the No. 1 singles spot.
• The Lopers are led by Scott Shafer in his second season as head coach.
• Nebraska-Kearney was picked to finish sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Fort Hays State sits at 3-4 this season (0-4 MIAA) after a 7-0 loss to Nebraska-Kearney on April 10. They will play Northwest Missouri on Saturday prior to Sunday's match with the Ichabods.
• The Tigers return three from last year's roster and welcome four newcomers.
• Fort Hays State's No. 1 singles starter holds a 3-4 record. 
• The Tigers are coached by Brian Flax in his 24th season.
• Fort Hays State was picked to finish ninth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

 
CHECKING IN WITH THE BODS

• Maria Soler Valverde leads the Ichabods with a perfect 11-0 record playing mainly from the third spot in the lineup. She is also 7-1 in doubles action.
• Freshman Maja Jung continues to make a stellar first impression as she has gone 12-1 in singles action to start the season. Jung is also 9-2 in doubles action with partner Kinsey Fields, playing from the No. 2 spot.
• Freshman Marta Torres is also off to a great start with a 9-4 record. Torres has recently been moved up to the No. 1 spot, where she has a 6-2 record. She was also moved up to No. 1 doubles with partner Logan Morrissey where they have gone 5-2. Torres is 8-5 overall in doubles action.
• Morrissey has a 9-3 record in doubles action at the top of the lineup, as she has gone 5-2 with Torres and 4-1 record with Svea Crohn.

 
ICHABODS IN THE RANKINGS

• The Ichabods are ranked No. 18 in the latest updated ITA rankings, last updated on April 8, 2021. The team is ranked second in the central regional rankings released on March 23.
• 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 close out the regular season against Northwest Missouri on April 24. The match is set for 1 p.m. at Washburn Tennis Complex. Senior Day proceedings will take place at the conclusion of the match as the 2021 graduates, Logan Morrissey and Maria Soler Valverde, are recognized.