SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The historic postseason run for the No. 35 Harding men's tennis team came to a halt Friday morning, as the Bisons fell 4-1 to No. 11 Washburn in the MIAA Tournament championship match at the Cooper Tennis Complex.
Despite the loss, the Bisons (16-7) achieved a program milestone by reaching the conference final for the first time since joining the MIAA in 2020. With the victory, Washburn (17-5) secured the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Ichabods Seize Momentum
Washburn, the top seed from the North Division, asserted control early during doubles play. The Ichabods claimed the opening point with a 6-2 win at the No. 2 position followed by a 6-1 victory at No. 3 over Harding's Sebastian De Las Salas and Edoardo D'Arrigo. The No. 1 doubles match involving Harding's nationally-ranked duo of Adrian Solorzano and Cian Mikkelsen was left unfinished once the point was clinched.
Singles Battle
The Bisons attempted to replicate their semifinal comeback, but the Ichabods proved too strong across the board. Washburn extended its lead to 2-0 when Yuto Miyagawa defeated Caleb Folse 6-3, 6-4 at the No. 5 spot.
Junior Cian Mikkelsen provided the lone point for the Bisons at the No. 3 flight. Mikkelsen turned in a dominant performance against Tommaso Cecchetti, winning 6-3, 6-0 to pull Harding within one.
However, Washburn responded immediately. Kilian Martinez defeated De Las Salas at the No. 2 spot (6-1, 7-5) to put the Ichabods on the brink. The championship was decided at the No. 6 position, where Benjamin Fock outlasted Harding freshman Jan Alexander Has in a three-set battle, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
At the time of the clinch, No. 66 Solorzano was locked in a high-level tiebreaker battle at the No. 1 spot, having split the first two sets.
NCAA Selection Monday
Harding now turns its attention to the national stage. While Washburn takes the automatic qualifier, the Bisons' 16-7 record and national ranking keep them firmly in the hunt for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The NCAA will announce the complete tournament field on Monday, May 4. The selection show is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. on NCAA.com.
#11 Washburn 4, #35 Harding 1
5/01/2026 at Springfield, Mo. (Cooper Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
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#66 Adrian Solorzano (HU) vs. Pavlos Parson (WU) 6-4, 6-7, 5-7, unfinished
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Kilian Martinez (WU) def. Sebastian De Las Salas (HU) 6-1, 7-5
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Cian Mikkelsen (HU) def. Tommaso Cecchetti (WU) 6-3, 6-6 (3-0)
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Luis Agullo (HU) vs. Zinovii Nahirniak (WU) 2-6, unfinished
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Yuto Miyagawa (WU) def. Caleb Folse (HU) 6-3, 6-4
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Benjamin Fock (WU) def. Jan Alexander Has (HU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Doubles competition
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Adrian Solorzano/Cian Mikkelsen (HU) vs. Benjamin Fock/Zinovii Nahirniak (WU) unfinished
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Tommaso Cecchetti/Pavlos Parson (WU) def. Florian Gayme/Jan Alexander Has (HU) 6-2
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Kilian Martinez/Yuto Miyagawa (WU) def. Sebastian De Las Salas/Edoardo D'Arrigo (HU) 6-1
Match Notes
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Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,3,2,6)
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Records: Washburn 17-5; Harding 16-7
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MIAA Tournament Finals
