After a successful Florida spring break trip, and with the bulk of the CCIW schedule on the horizon, NCC men’s tennis eyes a postseason run.
Spring success
The team began its spring season in Feb. They began their spring break trip with a winning record of 5-3. The warm weather in Florida paid off for the Cardinals. They achieved two wins in a dominating fashion, cruising past Transylvania University 9-0 and Macalester College 8-1. The only blemish on the trip was a 5-1 loss to tenth-ranked Denison.
The Cardinals now enter the most important part of their season with a 7-4 record. Florida was the perfect opportunity for the team to build momentum heading into the competitive CCIW play. They were, however, rewarded for their success. They received recognition as the ninth-ranked team in the Central Region in the most recent rankings from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
Leaping ahead
Head Coach Ryan Jump, ‘20, saw the trip as an important opportunity for the team to build their strength with each other on and off the court.
“Florida was a great team bonding trip! I personally think we accomplished more off the court than on the court, and it has set us up well for the home stretch of the season,” said Jump.
Jump is familiar with the competition in CCIW tennis. He was a four-time All-CCIW selection during his time with Carthage College before coming to NCC as head coach during the 2017-18 season. Building a solid resume and being prepared to play skilled teams is important as all eyes shift to the CCIW schedule looming ahead of them.
“Now that we’re two CCIW matches in, our guys have bought into preparing for this final stretch of the season. They understand the significance of the regular conference season and getting a good gauge of the competition awaiting for the conference tournament,” said Jump.
Impact players
Ramon Vilarroig Martinez, ‘24, has been one of the cornerstones of the Cardinal’s success this season. He saw the trip to Florida as a valuable opportunity for growth.
“Not only did we have the chance to play against some tough opponents, but we also had the chance to experience a different playing environment. This allowed us to adapt and adjust our playing style accordingly, which is an important skill to have as we head into the bulk of the CCIW play,” said Vilarroig Martinez.
The team has also benefited from having many reliable options to turn to throughout the season. Depth has been a key factor for the Cardinals with many main performers for the team staying consistent. These include Matthew Sengphommachanh, ‘25, Javier Suarez Balsera, ‘23, Guillermo Gonzalez Fernandez, ‘23, and Vilarroig Martinez.
Sengphommachanh and Gonzalez Fernandez
Sengphommachanh owns a 6-6 record in singles matches and an 8-3 record in doubles matches. Good play from underclassmen like Sengphommachanh is part of the reason depth has been a strength of the Cardinals. He credits his and the team’s success to how close the bonds are among his teammates.
“So far in the 2023 season, a big part of our success is our companionship and our closeness as a team. It was the same case last year, as we were a super close-knit group, and that hasn’t changed this year either. The strength of our relationships off the court has translated pretty well onto the court,” said Sengphommachanh.
Gonzalez Fernandez is 6-4 in singles matches and 9-3 in doubles matches. His dominance in doubles matches has been crucial for the Cardinals’ winning ways this season. He also won the first CCIW Men’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for the spring season in Feb.
Suarez Balsera and Villarroig Martinez
Suarez Balsera has a record of 7-5 in singles matches and a 7-5 record in doubles matches. He sees the success of the team as a result of a winning mentality and the will to improve as a program.
“The coaches have brought to the program great recruits that have increased our level and depth in the lineup. We try to go out there every day whether it’s a practice or a match, whether it’s at 9 pm or noon, and do the best we can. I think we have pushed each other to be better players,” said Suarez Balsera.
Arguably the player that has had the most impact on the Cardinals’ roster as a whole, Vilarroig Martinez has been a rock for the team. He maintains a record of 9-3 in singles and an 8-3 record in doubles matches. Additionally, he locked down the seventh CCIW Men’s Tennis Student-Athlete of the Week for the spring season.
One cohesive unit
Sticking with the trend of relying on the team’s strong bonds, Vilarroig Martinez also sees the team’s hard-working mentality and chemistry as a reason for success.
“We’ve been working hard during our practices and matches, pushing ourselves to improve our skills and strategies. Additionally, our team dynamic is fantastic, with strong bonds on and off the court that allows us to communicate effectively and trust each other’s abilities,” said Vilarroig Martinez.
The combination of experience, upperclassmen leadership and underclassmen depth has been the key to success for the Cardinals.
Eyes on the horizon
The remaining CCIW matches will be a test for the NCC men’s tennis team. From here on out, there is nothing but CCIW play to close out the season. Next will come the CCIW Tournament and the NCAA Division III Championships.
The team, fresh off a regional ranking, will certainly look to improve upon that ranking and show the Division III tennis world that they are worthy of that distinction. Jump and company aim to keep their impact players competing successfully, and in doing so, continue cruising past every opponent that comes in their path.
