Montgomery, AL. – The #9 ranked Dalton State men's tennis team started the Southern States Athletic Conference portion of the 2016 schedule with the biggest win of the team's brief existence.

The Roadrunners (1-1, 1-0 SSAC) left Alabama's capital city Friday with 5-4 win over #2 ranked Auburn-Montgomery.

"I couldn't be prouder of the guys," said DS Coach Zack Rogers. "We came out and went shot for shot with the winningest program in NAIA history and pulled off the biggest win in our program's history."

The Warhawks (0-1, 0-1) started with a 2-1 advantage.

Dalton State's #1 doubles team of Sebastian Dartnell and Nikolay Nikiforov knocked-off AUM's Santiego Veglia and Federico Lombisano, 8-0.

"Nik and Seb set the tone early with that win at #1 doubles," said Rogers.  "We had two match points at #3, but credit AUM for stepping up and taking that line."

The Auburn-Montgomery #2 and #3 doubles teams gave the hosts a 2-1 lead going into the singles. Vincent Dubosclard and Birkir Gunnarsson (AUM) defeated Jose Ruda and Adam Hornby (DS), 8-6. Luis Vivas and Francisco Mendieta (AUM) defeated Edberg Espinosa and Joe Bray (DS), 9-7.

The Roadrunners captured four of six singles matches to take the win. "Nik played lights out and pulled us even at 2-2," said Rogers. "Adam and Joe secured the next two points and paved the way for the deciding point in an absolutely epic match between Edberg and Dubosclard. What a match and what a great day to be a Roadrunner"

In singles:

1.    Mendieta (AUM) def. Jose Ruda (DS) 6-1, 6-0

2.    Espinoza (DS) def. Dubosclard (AUM) 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4

3.    Nikiforov (DS) def. Lombisano (AUM) 6-0, 6-1

4.    Bray (DS) def.  Gunnarsson (AUM) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2

5.    Hornby (DS) def. Veglia (AUM) 6-2, 7-6

6.    Vivas (AUM) def. Dartnell (DS) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4

Michel Bates, the Roadrunners Director of Tennis, also enjoyed Friday's men's action. "I'm very proud of the men's win today," said Bates. "They played well and were well coached."

Dalton State's men will host Point University (GA) at Lakeshore Park Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and Georgia Southwestern Sunday at 11:00 a.m.