Lady Blue netters swat the Hornets in end of season playoff

The Washburn Lady Blues tennis team wrapped up the 2013 season with a 5-3 win over No.6 tournament seed, Emporia State in a consolation match at the MIAA Tournament hosted in Springfield Mo. Washburn avenged a 7-2 loss to the Hornets from earlier in the season in a match played on April 2. Washburn finishes the season 6-16.

Washburn led 2-1 after doubles play as the No. 1 team of Jodie Blackim and Kirsten Holle topped Nicole Jara and Taylor Smith 8-5. At No. 2 doubles Sophie O'Neill and Casyn Buchman defeated Alex Crowe and Kayla Fraley 8-5.

In singles play, Blackim picked up the Lady Blues' first point with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Tiffany Khounsombath at No. 3 singles and then Holle topped Jenny Gerhardt 6-3, 6-4 at No. 4 singles. Buchman wrapped up the win for Washburn with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 2 over Taylor Smith.

Washburn men out hit Southeastern Oklahoma and Newman

While most of the spring sports are trying to get games rescheduled and fields cleared, the Washburn mens tennis team has been fortunate enough to get some matches in.

The men’s team stepped out of Division II play to face Wichita State. The Ichabods were unable to topple Goliath, only winning one game in the whole match.


“They’re one of the top 75 teams in the nation in Division I,” said Bobby Florence, Washburn junior tennis player. “You can’t really ask for better competition. We compete with them and just play as hard as we can.”

There wasn’t much time to dwell on the loss as the Bods had to jump right back into action Saturday and Sunday. Saturday Washburn picked up a much needed over a tough Southeastern Oklahoma team. The Ichabods got things started fast, sweeping all three doubles matches. Florence picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win in No. 5 singles while newcomer, freshman Thilo Schlenker, won his No. 2 singles match in three sets. Junior Arek Kozaczuk took Southeastern’s Luka Radulovic into three sets in No. 1 singles before falling 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Junior Pascal Laucht also fell in three sets in No. 3 singles but the Bods were able to walk away with a 5-2 win over the Savage Storm.

“Southeastern is a pretty solid team,” said Florence. “We really came together as a team and played really well all through doubles. We played strong in singles. One through four went through three sets. It boosted our confidence that we can beat some better teams.”

Washburn improved their record to .500 the following day with a throttling of instate non-conference foe Newman University. The Ichabods dominated from the start as Kozaczuk won No. 1 singles 6-4, 6-0 and Sclenker won his No. 2 singles match 6-3, 7-5. Laucht came away with a victory in No. 3-singles play while junior Steven Fletcher had an impressive 6-0, 6-0 win in No. 4 singles. Florence and junior Chance Joost both won their matches as the Bods went into doubles play with a 6-0 advantage. Kozaczuk and Fletcher won their No. 1 doubles match 8-3 while Florence and Joost defeated Ramon Nola and Jared Ferris 8-2 in No. 2 doubles. Sophomores Jacob Long and Dario Munoz-Poletti finished off the sweep with an 8-5 win in No. 3 doubles. The Bods will have to rely on their depth as they continue to pack more and more games on this spring. The veteran squad has plenty of experience, but will need Schlenker and Long to proivde a boost.

Long, a Topeka native, was able to make the best of the situation as he filled in for the Bods’ lineup in their third straight day of matches.

“I was excited to get this moment,” said Long. “Although it was a great opportunity for me, I loved playing for my teammates.”

Washburn will need to keep their focus as they begin the grueling part of their schedule.

“It’s a good feeling feeling [beating Newman] because we have had a tough schedule thus far,” said Long. “I know our team has a lot of potential this year and I’m excited to see what we can do in our regular season.”

The Ichabods will again step away from Division II play to square off with Cowley County Community College. The Bods are looking to keep the momentum going against the small institution.

“We really got to prioritize everything,” said Florence. “We really have to plan ahead and take the days off when you need to take them off. Just play as hard as you can when you get the opportunity.”

Washburn unable to swat the ESU Hornets

The Lady Blues had a minor set back after earning their first MIAA win of the season against Lincoln University.

The Lady Blues traveled to face-off with the Hornets at Emporia State Universitys' tennis complex. The Blues fought hard but could only come away with two wins, falling 7-2 to the Hornets.

Freshmen Gwen Shepler and Nzingha Banks were beaten 8-3 in No. 3 doubles to ESU’s Somer Schmidt and Tiffany Khounsombath. In an intense match, the dynamic duo of junior Sophie O’Neill and sophomore Casyn Buchman were unable to come away with a victory in No. 2 doubles. Kayla Fraley and Alex Crowe of ESU managed to fend off Buchman and O’Neill, winning 9-7.

Freshmen Jodie Blackim and Kirsten Holle got the Blues in the win column, winning 8-5 in No. 1 doubles. However Washburn was unable to keep the momentenum going into singles play.

Schmidt defeated Washburn sophomore Rachael Hageman 6-0, 6-4 in No. 6 singles play. Shepler couldn’t get past Crowe in No. 5 singles, losing 6-3, 6-1. Holle was almost able to get her second win of the day, but narrowly lost 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to ESU’s Jennifer Gerhardt.

The Lady Blues got their second win from Buchman, who is making her return back to tennis action after spending the last few months with the Washburn basketball team. Buchman spanked Khounsombath in No. 3 singles, 6-1, 6-2.

Blackim was less fortunate in No. 2 singles. The freshman from Oklahoma couldn’t carry over her success from doubles play, losing 6-2, 6-0 to Taylor Smith.

After much success the last couple of matches, O’Neill hit a rough patch. She was defeated 6-0, 6-4 in No. 1 singles. Washburn (3-13, 2-5 MIAA) will host Truman University 2 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Washburn’s Tennis Complex.

Lady Blues Still looking for first win

It has been a rough season, to say the least, for the Lady blues tennis team. The young Blues haven't gotten much help from mother nature either.
"We've practiced probably a total of three days outside this spring," said Dave Alden, Washburn head tennis coach. "We're lucky to have access to indoor facilities to let us practice."

The blues have gone through a trial by fire, maturing their game as they go.
"It's learning how to play at this level," said Alden. "We've made some good strides from a doubles standpoint. Before we were competitive, nowwe're winning matches."

Washburn's doubles team stumbled in their last action against East Central (3-4). The Lady Blue Netters all three doubles matches before snagging two wins in singles play. Freshman Jodie Blackim defeated Bernardita Muscillo in No.2 singles while sophomore Rachael Hageman won at No.6 in straight sets. The 7-2 loss makes the Blues 0-10 on the season and they will have to wait at least two more days to get their first win after their match against Johnson County Community College was postponed because of weather. Luckily for the Lady Blues it gives sophomore Casyn Buchman a couple more days to transition back in to tennis form.

"It's unfortunate that basketball finished the way they did," said Alden. "They had a great season, but Buchman is a big part of our team and she steps in and really helps what we do. We're really excited to have her bac."

Buchman will look to help bag a win for the WU netters who are in dire need of a win to help build some confidence.

More cheer for Lady Blues tennis

During their first competitive matches of the season, the Lady Blues faced a double header against University of Arkansas Fort Smith and Drury University at an indoor tennis complex, Springfield MO,. The Lady Blues came up short against both teams with a 8-1 loss in day one of competition against UAFS and a wipe out 9-0 loss on day two of play to nationally ranked #22 Drury. As this was the first of many matches for the lady Blues, tennis coach Dave Alden was eager to not make this losing streak in to a habit. "We have six freshmen on the team this year...it is expected for them to play a little tighter and be nervous in these first few matches, but it's important that they learn quickly so they can compete in a college level environment." Said Alden. " we need them to adapt quickly to the atmosphere and pressure of college tennis so we are ready in time for April when our MIAA conference matches begin."
A huge effect on matches are essentially down to atmosphere ad support. Some like to play to the roar of a crowd, while others prefer silence and not a lot of attention being drawn to them. However in college sport, it's all about going loud or going home. The Lady Blues freshmen were noticeably tame for a college level team.
Energy carries so much weight on the outcome of a match and that it is why it is so important now more so than ever that the freshman members of WU tennis are generating some cheer not only from the crowds but also from their team mates.
Hopefully by April you will be able to hear us cheering from all the way across campus! Stay tuned!

Post #6-Making easy work of Lincoln

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Lady Blues tennis team made easy work the Lincoln Blue Tigers dropping only three games in a 9-0 win. Washburn (6-7, 3-1 MIAA) will take on Northwest Missouri State on Wednesday at the Washburn Tennis Complex at 3p.m.

The No. 1 doubles team of Jamie Blackim and Alyssa Castillo topped Camila Araujo and Alina Katrevich 8-3. Morgan Rainey and Whitley Zitch at No. 2 and Casyn Buchman and Sophie O'Neill at No. 3 won their doubles matches 8-0.

In singles play, it was all 6-0, 6-0 straight set wins for the Lady Blues.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the scoring system used in tennis matches, I have created a short slide show to make sense of the rules and scoring used in competitive tennis. ENJOY!

GO BODS!!

Post #5- Sickness leads to key 5-4 loss for Lady Blue Netters but pick up play in conference action to top Fort Hays 6-3

The Washburn Lady Blues netters dropped a 5-4 decision to Rockhurt in regional play on the Washburn tennis complex on Friday afternoon.
Washburn was leading 2-1 after doubles action as doubles pairs Whitley Zitch and Morgan Rainey won 8-5 at No. 2 doubles and Casyn Buchman and myself picked up an 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles entering singles play. However, Washburn seniors Rainey at No. 1 singles and Kristen McKee at No. 6 singles both were forced to retire during their matches after succumbing to dehydration and heat sickness due to the warm weather conditions.  Despite these devastating defaults to the overall score against Rockhurst, the lower classmen, Casyn Buchman topped Mary Lanaghan 6-4, 6-2 in No. 5 singles and I managed to win my match over Karsyn Betts at No. 2 singles 6-0, 6-2.
In other news the Washburn Lady Blues picked up play to improve  5-7 overall in regualar season and 2-1 in MIAA conference action against Fort Hays State University the following day on Saturday afternoon.
Washburn was up 2-1 after doubles play after No. 2 doubles pair Whitley Zitch and Morgan Rainey won their match 8-2 and No. 3 doubles team Casyn Buchman and Kristen McKee won 8-3.
Washburn won four of the six singles matches- all in straight sets. No. 1 Rainey won 6-3, 6-3 over Camille Caron-Bedard. Jamie Blackim of Washburn won her match at No. 4 singles while Casyn Buchman and Aylssa Castillo won their matches at No. 5 and No. 6 singles respectively to clinch the match 6-3 over all.
Washburn return to action against Emporia State University in MIAA play at Washburn Tennis Complex on April 3, 2pm .

Come support The Washburn Netters! GO BODS!!


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