Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. (Feb. 27, 2026) – The North Central College men's tennis program put an end to its three-match skid Friday, defeating ITA No. 38 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 6-1. Henry Ros and Andres Valverde Gonzalez claimed their fourth victory as a doubles team this spring, and they both earned individual victories in their respective singles matches later in the evening.
North Central (2-4) claimed the doubles point for the second time this season and for the second consecutive match. Ros and Valverde Gonzalez won 6-3 in the second pairing, while Matt Crossland, the team's lone senior, and Jack Briggs clinched the point in the third pairing, winning their match 7-6.
Ros carried the momentum into his singles play, taking down his opponent in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5. Ros came back from down 3-1 and 4-2 in the second set, taking the lead 6-5 late, and breaking his opponent's serve to clinch the set and the point for the Cardinals.
Valverde Gonzalez played a stress-free match, claiming victory in straight sets 6-4, 6-2. His teammate, Rafael Lessa, found himself in a higher-stress contest, winning the first set against his opponent in extra games 7-5, and taking the second set 6-3. Lessa's win clinched the match victory for the Cardinals, giving them their fourth point of the match.
Ignacio Hernandez Ruiz continued the onslaught, taking his match 7-6, 6-4. Hernandez Ruiz took the first set in an 8-6 tiebreaker, before settling in to the second set and breaking serve in the early going to go on and win it 6-4.
Jack Briggs put the cherry on top, claiming his contest in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
The lone set wins in singles for Whitewater (5-4) came in the opening matchup, as Theo Billson defeated Philip Wottgen 6-4, 6-3.
North Central is right back on the court tomorrow, taking part in a split doubleheader for the second consecutive Saturday. The Cardinals start with a neutral-site contest against Grinnell in Hanover Park at 12:30 p.m., and finish the day with a nightcap against the Illinois Institute of Technology on the road at the XS Tennis Center in Chicago.
