KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Washburn Ichabod men's tennis team was picked to finish first in the MIAA/GAC North Division in the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll. The team earned nine first-place votes with 50 total points.  

Washburn has not lost a conference regular season match in eac hof the last two years, and has won three straight MIAA/GAC Tournament Championships. They went 23-4 overall last season and 5-0 in conference play, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Championship match. 

Behind them in the North Division rankings is Emporia State in second, Northwest Missouri in third and with the final first place vote as well. Nebraska Kearney, Augustana and Newman round out the rankings in that order. 

In the South Division, Harding leads the poll with nine of 10 first place votes followed by Ouachita Baptist in second with the final vote at the top.  

The Ichabods begin the spring season with an exhibition against Seward County CC on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. in Genesis Tennis Center. The first regular season match comes on Jan. 31 against McKendree with first serve at 12 p.m. also in Genesis.  
 

2026 MIAA/GAC MEN'S TENNIS 

PRESEASON COACHES POLL 

NORTH DIVISION 

1. Washburn [9] – 50 points 

2. Emporia State – 40 points 

3. Northwest Missouri [1] – 35 points 

4. Nebraska Kearney – 26 points 

5. Augustana – 19 points 

6. Newman – 10 points 

SOUTH DIVISION 

1. Harding [9] – 50 points 

2. Ouachita [1] – 45 points 

3. Southern Arkansas – 31 points 

4. Northeastern State – 24 points 

T5. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 15 points 

T5. Southeastern – 15 points 

[#] - First Place Votes