ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Three separate rain or lightning delays and nearly six hours after the match began No. 9 Washburn's season came to an end with a 4-2 National Championship loss to No. 1 Valdosta State on Saturday evening. The Ichabods end the historic season for the program with a 23-4 record.  

The top-seeded Blazers (26-0) jumped ahead in doubles play at No. 3, defeating Pavlos Parson and Moritz Pieper 6-2 to take the advantage. Playing on the top court Matthew Earle and Tim Hammes fought in a top-five battle with No. 5 Takeshi Taco and Saveam Van Wijk. After the dual was tied 4-4 the final two games went to Valdosta State to take the doubles point. Tommy Cecchetti and Vasek Schneider led 5-4 on court two for Washburn over No. 8 Edgar Destouet and Arthur Bord and were leading 30-15 in the game when the point was decided. 

In singles play the first court featured a top-five battle between No. 4 Tim Hammes and No. 2 Takeshi Taco. Hammes fell in the first set 6-1 before bouncing back to reverse the score in the second and force a third set. In the third he fell behind early and was unable to make up the ground, losing 6-1. Finishing just behind him was Zino Nahirniak on court five who put the Ichabods on the board with a pair of 6-3 victories.  

Court two also had a meeting of top-10 opponents with No. 8 Vasek Schneider taking on No. 3 Boruch Skierkier. Schneider fell behind 4-0 early in the first set but was able to battle back, winning six straight games for a 6-4 win in the first set. The second set went back-and-forth with ties at 2-2, 3-3- and 4-4 before Schneider claimed two straight games to win 6-4 and tie the match at two.  

Pavlos Parson dropped a first set at No. 3, 6-2. In the second set he bounced back with an early lead to win 6-3 and force a third set. In the third No. 20 Edgar Destouet went in front 4-1 over Parson before winning 6-2. Playing at No. 6, Matthew Earle built an early lead and was able to work a 6-4 victory in his first set of play. In the second set the score went in the other direction 6-3. He fell behind early in the third set, and trailed 5-2 when the final delay of the match for lightning was called, lasting over two hours. After play resumed the final game went to Valdosta State as they clinched the set 6-2 and the match 4-2.  

After falling in his first set at No. 4, 6-4, Tommy Cecchetti battled back for a 6-3 win in the second set and was tied 1-1 in the third when the point and match were decided.  

Season Notes:  

Washburn set multiple program-bests or completed program-firsts in the 2024-25 season. 

• Made the program debut in the ITA Indoor National Championships and would finish as the national runner-up in the match.  

• Became the first team in program history, men's or women's to advance past the National Quarterfinals as they advanced all the way to the National Championship.  

• Set a new program high mark with 23 victories on the season. 

• Won the MIAA/GAC Tournament Championship for a third season in a row.  

• Won the ITA Regional Championship in singles and the ITA Cup National Championship in doubles.  

• Had 13 victories over ITA ranked top-50 opponents on the year.  

Doubles competition: 

1. Van Wijk, Xaveam/Taco, Takeshi (VSU) def. Earle, Matthew/Hammes, Tim (WU) 6-4 

2. Cecchetti, Tommy/Schneider, Vasek (WU) vs. Destouet, Edgar/Bord, Arthur (VSU) 5-4 30-15 UF  

3. Skerbatis, Jan/Skierkier, Boruch (VSU) def. Pieper, Moritz/Parson, Pavlos (WU) 6-2 

Order of finish: 3, 1  

Singles competition: 

1. Taco, Takeshi (VSU) def. Hammes, Tim (WU) 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 

2. Schneider, Vasek (WU) def. Skierkier, Boruch (VSU) 6-4, 6-4 

3. Destouet, Edgar (VSU) def. Parson, Pavlos (WU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 

4. Cecchetti, Tommy (WU) vs. Iaconi, Jerome (VSU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-1 UF  

5. Nahirniak, Zino (WU) def. Skerbatis, Jan (VSU) 6-3, 6-3 

6. Doitteau, Julien (VSU) def. Earle, Matthew (WU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 

Order of finish: 1, 5, 2, 3, 6