SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Washburn men's tennis dropped a tight contest against No. 15 Southern Arkansas, 4-3. 
 
The Ichabods fell behind early, losing the doubles point for just the second time all season. No. 18 Matthew Earle and Sebastian lost 6-3 to No. 8 Sander Jans and Marko Nikoliuk. Then, Miquel Perez and Santiago Rendon lost their first doubles match at No. 3 doubles.
 
The Ichabods (13-3) responded quickly in singles play with a trio of straight-set victories. Rendon bounced back from doubles with a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 75 Sofiane Bah. No. 55 Raul-Alin Dicu followed, defeating No. 38 Jans, 6-2, 6-4. No. 35 Tim Hammes took down No. 16 Nikoliuk, giving Washburn the 3-1 lead.
 
Unfortunately, Pjontek and Miquel fell in three sets despite winning the first set. Pjontek lost 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Ole Valkyser at No.4 singles and Perez lost 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to No. 51 Stuart Rehfuss at No. 2 singles.
 
Daniel Bird was the last hope for the Ichabods. He lost the first-set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-4). Bird forced the third set, winning set two 6-4. Matthew Tennant topped Bird in the third set, 6-4 for a Southern Arkansas (14-3) victory.
 
Washburn competes against Harding on Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m.
 
Doubles Competition

1. #8 Sander Jans/Marko Nikoliuk (SAU) def. #18 Earle, Matthew/Pjontek, Sebastian (WU) 6-3

2. Sofiane Bah/Stuart Rehfuss (SAU) def. Dicu, Raul-Alin/Neideck, Noah (WU) 6-3

3. Matthew Tennant/Ole Valkyser (SAU) def. Perez, Miquel/Santiago Rendon (WU) 6-2

Order of Finish: 1,3,2
 
Singles Competition

1. #55 Dicu, Raul-Alin (WU) def. #38 Sander Jans (SAU) 6-2, 6-4

2. #51 Stuart Rehfuss (SAU) def. Perez, Miquel (WU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

3. #35 Hammes, Tim (WU) def. #16 Marko Nikoliuk (SAU) 6-3, 7-5

4. Ole Valkyser (SAU) def. Pjontek, Sebastian (WU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

5. Matthew Tennant (SAU) def. Bird, Daniel (WU) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-4

6. Santiago Rendon (WU) def. #75 Sofiane Bah (SAU) 6-2, 6-3