Bearcat men climb to No. 1 in Central Region

The Northwest Missouri State men's tennis team climbed to No. 1 in the Central Region and will start the spring season at No. 25 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings.

The Bearcat duo of Sergio de Vilchez and Luis Altimires check in on the national rankings as well at No. 17.

The doubles team claimed the ITA Central Region doubles title in September and advanced to the ITA Small College National Championships in Mobile, Ala. The pair also will open the spring ranked No. 1 in the Central Region as well.

Freshman standout, de Vilchez also earned a national ranking on the singles side after his impressive fall campaign. de Vilchez will open the season ranked 38th nationally and No. 2 in the Central Region when NCAA team competition begins in February.

Joining de Vilchez in the regional rankings are Rafael Bugiga at No. 5 and Guilherme Narducci at No. 13.

Bugiga and Narducci also team in doubles and will enter the spring season rank fourth in the region.

Northwest opens its 2013 spring championship season Feb. 15 against Alabama-Huntsville at the indoor courts in Red Oak, Iowa.