The Dalton State men's tennis team moved up to No. 5 in the NAIA Coaches Top-25 Poll released Tuesday. The Roadrunners then took the courts at the Lakeshore Park Tennis Center to battle visiting (RV) University of the Cumberlands and unseasonably warm temperatures.

Humidity and temperatures in the upper 80's were unexpected, but Dalton State took two of the three doubles lines and managed to hang on to edge the Patriots, 5-4.

"Today was one of those days when you are just happy to escape with a win," said Dalton State Coach Zack Rogers. "We came into the match overconfident after two big wins last week and we almost got humbled by a gutty Cumberlands team. We are a team who is still learning how to handle the pressure of having a top five ranking. In all honesty we were lucky that Adam, Nik, and Seb were able to step up and grind out third set wins and secure the team win. We are a team with a ton of talent, but we've got to take more cerebral approach to how we develop points and execute within our matches if we are going to reach our full potential this seasons."

Doubles:

1.       Ariez Heshaam/Daniel Fraser (UC) def. Jose Ruda/Sebastian Dartnell (DS) 8-2

2.       Edberg Espinoza/Joe Bray (DS) def. Leo Couto/Yusuke Matsuoka (UC) 8-2

3.       Adam Hornby/Nikolay Nikiforov (DS) def. Daniel Butcher/Astu Merenheimo (UC) 8-2

Singles:

1.    Ariez Heshaam (UC) def. Edberg Espinoza (DS) 6-3, 6-3

2.    Daniel Butcher (UC) def. Eduardo Cabrera (DS) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1

3.    Daniel Fraser (UC) def. Joe Bray (DS) 1-6, 6-3, 6-0

4.    Nikolay Nikiforov (DS) def. Astu Merenheimo (UC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0

5.    Adam Hornby (DS) def. Yusuke Matsuoka (UC) 6-4, 6-4

6.    Sebastian Dartnell (DS) def. Alberto Rosas (UC) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3

The Dalton State men will host Brewton-Parker on Friday at 3:00 p.m. Brewton-Parker doesn't have a women's team so the Lady Roadrunners will host Brenau University at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. The exact location will be announced Friday.

Defending national champion Georgia Gwinnett remains in the No. 1 position in the third regular-season edition of the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The third regular-season poll will be released March 29.

Top 25 Highlights 
• Georgia Gwinnett captures the No. 1 ranking for the third straight week in-a-row after receiving all 11 first-place votes and 281 total points.
• The Grizzlies most recent wins include three against Top 25 competitors like No. 10 William Carey (Miss.), then-No. 23 Cumberland (Tenn.) and then-No. 15 Campbellsville (Ky.).
• Middle Georgia State saw the most movement this week, going from No. 24 to No. 16 moving eight spots. Pivotal wins for the Knights came from a 7-2 victory against NCAA Division II Georgia Southwestern.
• Missouri Valley see Top 25 action this week ranking in at No. 25. 
• Ten teams did not move positions this week, including the top four.  
• Eleven conferences/Association of Independent Institutions/unaffiliated groups are represented throughout the Top 25, led by five programs from the Southern States Athletic Conference. The A.I.I/Cal Pac/GCAD/KIAC Conference and Golden State Athletic Conference are second with three teams mentioned each. 
• Georgia Gwinnett (2015), Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (2009, 08, 07) Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (2011, 10), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (2006, 04) and Oklahoma City (2001, 00) are the only teams to go the entire season ranked No. 1.
• Auburn Montgomery has the most No. 1 rankings in the Top 25 (29), former-member Azusa Pacific (Calif.) and Fresno Pacific (Calif.) are second with 23 each.


2016 NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll – No. 3 (March 15)

Dropped from Top 25: Graceland (Iowa)

Receiving Votes: Mobile (Ala.) 39, Tennessee Wesleyan 37, Southeastern (Fla.) 32, Indiana Wesleyan 24, Cornerstone (Mich.) 23, Cumberlands (Ky.) 13, Baker (Kan.) 12, Kansas Wesleyan 5, Indiana Southeast 4, Pikeville (Ky.) 4 ,Graceland (Iowa) 3, Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 3