TOPEKA, KAN.  — Squaring off against the most talented squad it will face all year, the Central College men's tennis team was defeated 7-0 by Washburn University (Kan.) Tuesday afternoon.

The Ichabods (6-2), an NCAA Division II program, swept the Dutch (3-6) in all nine match-ups.

"We did some really good things," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "I was pleased with our attitude and effort."

As a team, Washburn is ranked No. 2 in their region. All three doubles pairings are ranked in the top-10 regionally while the No. 1 team is third in Division II. Three singles players are top-20 regionally and Alejandro Valarezo Plaza is No. 13 in Division II.

"That will be the best team we play all year," coach Ryun Ferrell said. "They are levels better than anybody else on our schedule. The fact we went out there and competed speaks volumes about these young men on our team."

Freshmen Tanner Finken (freshman, Carroll, Kuemper Catholic HS) was beaten 6-0, 6-0 but Ferrell was impressed with what he saw from the rookie.

"I watched him play beautiful tennis," Ferrell said." He has a one-hand backhand I have never seen him hit as well as he did today. By the end of the match, he was ripping backhands and forehands and hitting big shots."

Senior Kris Weeden (Des Moines, Dowling Catholic HS) was handed a 6-0, 6-0 defeat by Raul Alin-Dicu, the No. 16 player in the region.

"Kris just got into the moment and said 'forget it' and went after it," Ferrell said. "He hit the ball as big as he could every time. He made a lot of them, but it's hard to maintain that level."

A busy week continues on Saturday when the Dutch host Crown College on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. If weather permits, the match will be held outside at the A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex courts. The matches will be held inside H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse if the weather does not permit.