2020-21 WASHBURN ICHABODS
WASHBURN ICHABOD MEN’S TENNIS 2021 SEASON OUTLOOK After a shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19, the Washburn men’s tennis team looks to spring back into competition in 2021. The team held a 3-2 overall record when the rest of the season was cancelled on March 17, 2020. The Ichabods return seven from the previous season’s roster, while welcoming in two newcomers. Despite the shortened season, the Ichabods had two ranked in the ITA Regional poll in its final rankings of the season. Junior Raul-Alin Dicu was tabbed at No. 16 nationally after finishing the season with a 8-5 singles record. Senior Paul Haase earned the No. 18 spot after ending the season with a 7-4 singles record. Haase also finished the season with a 6-2 doubles record with former Ichabod Chase Brill.
The team will kick off conference play at home, hosting Newman on March 27 and Emporia State on March 28. The men then host conference matchup against Southern Arkansas on April 10. The Ichabods then host a non-conference doubleheader against Tabor and Bethel on April 11. The team then hosts non-conference opponent Ottawa on April 21. The team ends their regular season schedule at home, hosting conference opponent Northwest Missouri State on April 23. The MIAA Tournament will be held in Edmond, Okla., on April 30May 1.
Dicu was named the MIAA Tennis Athlete of the Week on March 9, 2020, after going 4-0 the week prior against Bethel and Tabor College. He won both of his doubles matches with a score of 6-2. Playing No. 1 in singles, he defeated his Bethel opponent 6-1, 6-4, and won 6-0, 6-2, against Tabor. Five more returners make up the 2021 team, including junior Bradley Eidenmueller, junior Luke Howard, freshman Miquel Perez, junior Marc Roura Casi and sophomore Miller Zeiders. Eidenmueller held a 7-5 singles record and 7-3 doubles record with partner Dicu. Howard ended the season with a 2-3 singles record and 1-0 doubles record with partner Perez. Spring season newcomer Perez held a 3-2 singles record. Roura Casi ended the season with a 3-3 singles record and 4-5 doubles record with partner Zeiders. Zeiders held a 5-3 singles record to finish the season. Zeiders also held a 2-0 doubles record with former Ichabod Brill. Two newcomers, Daniel Bird and Sebastian Pjontek, join the team for the spring season. Bird will transfer from East Carolina University after their tennis programs were permanently cut. He posted a 3-5 record in singles and a 2-1 doubles record in his COVID-shortened freshman year. Sebastian Pjontek is coming in as a true freshman from Slovakia, after staying for his last fall season at home.
Senior Paul Haase and former Ichabod Chase Brill received a spot on the 2019 ITA Central Regional rankings at No. 6 after finishing the 2019 fall season with a record of 4-1. The duo ended the shortened season with a 6-2 record.
The men’s tennis team will open its spring season at home, facing Ottawa on Jan. 31. The Ichabods will then travel to Springfield, Mo. to face Drury on Feb. 7. The Ichabods travel to Omaha to face the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Feb. 13. The team return home on Feb. 21 for a matchup against William Jewell. The men take a road trip to Tulsa, Okla., for a match against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Feb. 27. The Ichabods then return home to host Barton County Community College on March 5. The men then travel to St. Augustine, Fla., to face Flagler College on March 10. The team will face Valdosta State on March 11 in Valdosta, Georgia. The men return home to host an exhibition match against Cowley County Community Collegeon March 17. The Ichabods then face Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo., on March 19 and Rockhurst in Kansas City, Mo., on March 20.
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Raul-Alin Dicu earned MIAA Tennis Athlete of the Week on March 9, 2020 after going a combined 4-0 the week before. He ended the shortened season with a 8-5 overall record.
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