Rockhurst men's and women's tennis will make their first appearances of the 2026 fall season this weekend when the Hawks travel to Topeka, Kansas, for the Washburn Invitational on Friday (Sept. 18) and Saturday (Sept 19), at the Kossover Tennis Center. The two-day tournament will give the Hawks their first opportunity for competition in 2026-27 after both programs put together successful campaigns last season.

The tournament field includes Rockhurst, Washburn, Pratt Community College, Cowley County Community College, Nebraska-Kearney and McKendree. Competition begins Friday morning with doubles play at 9 a.m., followed by singles action beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Rockhurst's men enter the fall looking to build on an 11-7 record from the 2025-26 season. The Hawks return a strong group from last year's squad, highlighted by All-GLVC selections Creed Skinner and Ollie Dickason. Skinner and Dickason provide Rockhurst with two experienced players at the top of the lineup after each earned conference recognition last season. 

The Rockhurst women are coming off another NCAA Tournament season after continuing to establish themselves as one of the top programs in the Midwest Region. The Hawks finished last season with a 14-5 overall record and earned their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament and sixth NCAA appearance in program history. Leading the way for the women once again is Ella Coleman, who returns after earning GLVC Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive season in 2025-26. Coleman has been at the heart of Rockhurst's recent success and enters the new season as one of the most accomplished players in program history.

The Washburn Invitational will provide both Rockhurst teams with an early opportunity to compete in singles and doubles play while preparing for the remainder of the fall schedule. The Hawks will also get an early look at GLVC opponent McKendree as part of the six-team tournament field.

Play begins at 9 a.m. Friday with doubles competition at the Kossover Tennis Center. Singles competition is scheduled to follow at 11:30 a.m., with tournament action continuing Saturday.