TEMPE, Ariz. -- Washburn men's tennis will start the season ranked as the No. 8 team in the nation after earning the top-10 distinction in the preseason ITA rankings released on Wednesday morning.  

The Ichabods enter the season at No. 8 after finishing ranked No. 9 in the final ITA poll of the 2023-24 season fresh off a run to the Round of 16. In the fall Washburn went 76-44 combined in singles duals while posting a 32-25 combined record in doubles duals.  

Four Ichabods, Tim Hammes, Matthew Earle, Vasek Schneider and Tommy Cecchetti, qualified for the ITA Cup. Hammes won the ITA Central Region Singles Championship with Schneider finishing as runner-up. In doubles, Schneider and Cecchetti finished second in the region.  

At the ITA Cup for a second straight year Washburn took home a National Championship with Tim Hammes and Matthew Earle taking the crown on the doubles side.  

Valdosta State begins the season ranked No. 1 in the nation followed by Flager at No. 2. Among MIAA/GAC teams the Ichabods are the only one to appear in the rankings except for Southern Arkansas which comes in at No. 25.  

Washburn begins the spring season with a home exhibition match against Cowley County Community College at 1 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Genesis Tennis Center.