Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
DECATUR, Ill. (March 29, 2026) – Playing its first outdoor match outside of Florida on Sunday, the North Central men's tennis team continued its College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) schedule, traveling downstate to face Millikin University at the Fairfield Park Tennis Complex in Decatur, Illinois. Coach Joey Leto's team served up its fifth straight win, sweeping the Big Blue and improving to 2-0 in CCIW play.
The Cardinals, who went on a seven-dual winning streak at the end of last season, did not lose a single matchup in the dual, winning all nine contests. The win also extended North Central's (9-6, 2-0 CCIW) winning streak over Millikin (11-4, 1-1) to seven matches, dating back to 2019.
Andres Valverde Gonzalez and Henry Ros set the tone in doubles with a 6-4 win, followed by a 6-2 win by Philipp Wottgen and David Vilarroig Martinez and a 6-4 win by Matt Crossland and Rafael Miquel Isern, with the latter two duos making their Spring debuts as doubles teams.
In singles play, Wottgen took home a three-set win, claiming his match 6-2, 3-6, 1-0. Ros took care of business in the number slot, coasting to a 6-1, 6-3 win for his fourth consecutive singles victory.
Valverde Gonzalez conceded just three games in his match, winning 6-1, 6-2, while Rafael Lessa improved to 7-3 in the fourth spot of the lineup with a 6-1, 6-4 win.
Ignacio Hernandez Ruiz won the opening set of his singles match 7-6, thanks to an 8-6 tiebreaker win. He rolled to a 6-1 victory in the second set to win the match.
Vilarroig Martinez got back on track after falling in his singles contest yesterday, getting back in the win column with a 6-1, 6-1 straight sets win.
The Cardinals improved to 3-1 in outdoor matches and 1-0 in outdoor matches played outside of Florida.
North Central, which is now alone atop the CCIW standings, is back in action Friday as it hosts a split CCIW doubleheader, hosting Carroll at 11:30 a.m. and Elmhurst University at 5:30 p.m.
