Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Emerson Box Score

Hampton Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. (Mar. 4, 2020) – Ending its trip down to Florida with a 3-2 overall record, the North Central College men's tennis team split on the final day at Sanlando Park, taking down Emerson College, 6-3 in the opener before falling to NCAA Division I opponent Hampton University, 7-0 to end the trip.

Opening the day with a tough battle in doubles play against Emerson (4-3), the Cardinal duo of Steven Mears and Lucas Pindak opened the scoring with a 8-4 win over Robert Comunale and Brock Higley at the No. 3 position.

After the Lions evened the score taking the No. 1 position by a narrow 8-6 margin, Andy Hinch and Justin Howes took back the lead with a 8-5 victory over Alex Laugier Naim and Max Chalik to give North Central the important 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

Javier Suarez Balsera wasted no time in taking down Maximo Lawlor at the No. 2 position in straight 6-0 sets, before Pindak increased the Cardinal lead 4-1 with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Higley at No. 6.

After clawing out a hard fought 7-5 win in the opening set, Hinch clinched the match win for North Central with a 6-2 second-set over Comunale at the No. 3 position, while Mears capped the scoring for the Cardinals with comeback 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 thriller at No. 5.

With a tough test to close out the trip, the Cardinals fell behind 1-0 after doubles play, playing by the division I rules with doubles play accounting to one team point as Hampton scored a pair of 6-2 win to take the 1-0 lead into singles play.

Hampton (4-7) went on to win all six singles matches, five of which came in straight sets, but Suarez Balsera was the lone to force three sets as the freshman started off strong with a 6-3 first-set win, but Matthew Foster-Estwick turned the tables to take the second by an identical 6-3 score. Coming down to the tiebreaker, Saurez Balsera was unable to pull off the win, falling 10-6.

North Central (7-5) returns to play on Saturday, Mar. 14, taking on Purdue University-Northwest at Park Forest Tennis & Health Club in Park Forest, Illinois.

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