Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 9, 2026) – The men's tennis program, taking part in its first match of its four-match spring break schedule in Orlando, Fla., defeated Ohio Northern University 5-2 on Monday afternoon, utilizing a new doubles look and strong performances from the fifth and sixth spots in the lineup to topple the Polar Bears.
Playing in 83-degree weather, North Central (4-5) started the day by nabbing the doubles point. Coach Joey Leto rolled out a new look for doubles, slotting Henry Ros and Andres Valverde Gonzalez into the one spot for the first time this season after their recent string of dominant wins in the number two spot. However, the Ohio Northern pair proved to be the better pairing on this day, winning the match 6-1.
Rafael Lessa and Philipp Wottgen, playing the second doubles spot for the first time this season, took care of business in their contest, winning 6-2. The pairing of Matt Crossland and David Vilarroig Martinez clinched the doubles point for North Central by winning their contest 6-3.
Ohio Northern (2-4) got on the scoreboard for the first time in the number spot in the singles lineup, as Aiden Yeager took down Wottgen in a three-set thriller 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (10-5). Henry Ros put the Cardinals back in the lead in the number two match, sweeping his opponent 6-3, 6-1 to snap a two-match skid.
Vilarroig Martinez, much like Wottgen, found himself in a three-set thriller. Vilarroig Martinez came out ahead, though, coming back after dropping the opening set to win 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (11-9). This was the first time in the dual schedule that Vilarroig Martinez had won a match in which there were two tiebreakers.
With the score reading 3-2 (Ohio Northern won the number three singles match 7-5, 5-7, 1-0 (10-6)), the Cardinals turned to Rafael Lessa to clinch the match. Lessa rose to the challenge in the third three-set match of the contest.
Lessa dropped the first set 7-6, coming up short 7-4 in the tiebreaker, but he evened the match at one with a 6-4 win in set two. The third set tiebreaker needed a tiebreaker of its own, as the game required extra points, but Lessa came out ahead in the end, winning it 11-9, and giving North Central the win.
Ignacio Hernandez Ruiz, commonly referred to as "Nacho," added on a fifth point for good measure, winning his match 6-2, 6-3.
The Cardinals have a quick turnaround, as they'll get right back on the horse at 1 p.m. tomorrow, looking for their second win over a ranked opponent this season, this time against No. 35 Skidmore College.
