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Chicago, Ill.  — The Illinois Tech Men's Tennis team (2-4) faced off against North Central (3-5) on Saturday at the XS Tennis Center, ending with a 5-2 loss. Despite a strong start with a win in the No. 1 doubles, the Scarlet Hawks were only able to claim points with victories in the No. 2 and No. 5 singles matches. 

How It Happened

Illinois Tech's Tanay Sharma and Alexander Feher set the pace with a commanding 6-0 win at No. 1 doubles against Rafael Lessa and Philipp Wottgen. However, North Central clinched the doubles point after securing wins on the remaining courts. Matt Crossland and Martinez D. Vilaroig defeated Pol Dueso Guell and Tejas Sheth 6-1, and Andres Valverde and Henry Ros followed suit with a 6-1 victory over Pedro Roca and Hozumi Tada.

In singles action, North Central extended their lead as Andres Valverde bested Feher 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3. Dueso Guell put up a fight at No. 4 but fell to Lessa in a super tiebreak, 4-6, 6-3, 10-6. Sharma brought a point back for Illinois Tech at No. 2 singles with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Ros.

North Central sealed the match with two more wins: Wottgen edged out Roca 6-1, 6-7(2), 10-1 at No. 1 singles, and Vilaroig finished with a 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 victory over Joseph Au at No. 6. Tada gave the Scarlet Hawks their second singles win with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph at No. 5 against I. Hernandez Ruiz.

Doubles  
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Tanay Sharma/Alexander Feher (IIT) def. Rafael Lessa/Philipp Wottgen (NCC) 6-0  
Andres Valverde/Henry Ros (NCC) def. Pedro Roca/Hozumi Tada (IIT) 6-1  
Matt Crossland/Martinez D Vilaroig (NCC) def. Pol Dueso Guell/Tejas Sheth (IIT) 6-1  

Singles  
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Philipp Wottgen (NCC) def. Pedro Roca (IIT) 6-1, 6-7(2), 1-0 (10-2)  
Tanay Sharma (IIT) def. Henry Ros (NCC) 7-5, 6-3  
Andres Valverde (NCC) def. Alexander Feher (IIT) 6-1, 6-3  
Rafael Lessa (NCC) def. Pol Dueso Guell (IIT) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-6)  
Hozumi Tada (IIT) def. Hernandez, Ruiz, I. (NCC) 6-4, 7-5  
Martinez D Vilaroig (NCC) def. Joseph Au (IIT) 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)  

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

Alexander Feher
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- 1 doubles win

Hozumi Tada
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- 1 singles win

Tanay Sharma
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- 1 singles win
- 1 doubles win

Game Notes:
- Illinois Tech men's tennis now holds a 2-4 record against North Central.

Up Next
Illinois Tech is set to play against the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at home on Sunday, March 8 at 2:30 p.m. at the XS Tennis Center in Chicago.