Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu

St. LOUIS (April 18, 2026) – The No. 31 North Central College men's tennis program saw its nine-match winning streak snapped on Saturday afternoon by No. 11 Washington University in St. Louis, as the Bears blanked the Cardinals 7-0.

It's the first loss the Cardinals have suffered since March 10, a 5-2 defeat at the hands of No. 35 Skidmore College during the program's spring break trip to Florida.

In doubles play, the pairings of Henry Ros and Andres Valverde Gonzalez, and Jack Briggs and Philipp Wottgen each lost their respective contests 6-3 in the first and second spots, respectively. In the third spot, Matt Crossland and David Vilarroig Martinez fell 6-2.

The Cardinals were unable to pick up any momentum in singles. Wottgen lost in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, as did Valverde Gonzalez (6-4, 6-1), Rafael Lessa (6-3, 6-1) and Ignacio Hernandez Ruiz (6-3, 7-6).

Ros found himself in a three-set thriller. After losing the opening set 6-4, Ros bounced back to take the second set 7-5, but he wasn't able to take home the tiebreaking game, ultimately falling in straight sets.

Vilarroig Martinez also went three sets. After losing a heartbreaking opening set 7-6, he commanded the second set to the tune of a 6-4 win.

After Vilarroig Martinez led 9-8 in the tiebreaker, his opponent came roaring back to win it 13-11 to complete the sweep of the Cardinals.

North Central is back in action this Tuesday when it heads to Wheaton to take on the Thunder in the final contest of the CCIW regular season. With a win, the Cardinals clinch sole possession of the CCIW regular season title.