Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (March 24, 2026) – David Vilarroig Martinez played a vital role in North Central men's tennis' 2-0 week this week. He went a perfect 4-0 between his singles and doubles contests, earning his first career College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Player of the Week honor as a result.
Vilarroig Martinez has won his last six singles contests and has gone 6-3 in doubles during the duals schedule.
His perfect weekend started on Friday against Judson University in doubles action. He and his partner, Matt Crossland, were taken to a tiebreaking game, but pulled out the victory 7-6 with an 8-6 win in the tiebreaker.
Vilarroig Martinez clinched the dual for the Cardinals with his singles victory. He took the opening set 6-4, but fell in a pair of extra games in the second set 7-5, setting up a dramatic tiebreaking third set. Vilarroig pulled away late to win the race to 10, taking the tiebreaker 10-6.
Upon hitting the dual clinching shot, the Cardinal roster mobbed him in celebration as he let out a roar that sent his hat flying, putting the perfect exclamation point on the Cardinals' sixth victory of the season.
The Cardinals started their conference slate on Saturday against fellow CCIW favorite Carthage. Vilarroig Martinez and Crossland took the court needing a win to clinch the doubles point for North Central. They scratched their way to a 6-4 victory, getting North Central out to a 1-0 lead in the match.
Vilarroig Martinez finished his perfect weekend with a three-set thriller. He won the opening set 6-4 before losing the second on a 7-6 on a 7-3 tiebreaker. He won the third set 6-3, giving him an immaculate weekend.
Vilarroig Martinez is 9-2 in singles this season and 6-2 in duals.
The Cardinals take part in a non-conference dual at home on Saturday against the University of California, Santa Cruz. After battling the Banana Slugs on Saturday, North Central continues its CCIW slate on Sunday against Millikin.
