Mobile, Al. – (Bracket) Dalton State is one of eight teams to receive first round byes in the 7^th annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Tennis National Championship, May 17-21, at the Mobile Tennis Center.
 
The bracket was released Tuesday evening with the Roadrunners joining (1) Georgia Gwinnett, (2) Auburn Montgomery, (3) Xavier (La.), (4) Northwestern Ohio, (6) Keiser (Fl.), (7) Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), and (8) Coastal Georgia in having the first round off.
 
The field consists of 13 automatic berths, 10 at-large selections, and one host berth (to the University of Mobile). At-large teams were determined using the final regular season Coaches' Top 25 Poll released Monday.

"We are extremely proud to be headed back to Mobile for this year's national tournament," said DS Coach Zack Rogers. "Last year we were the last team to be selected and the weeks leading up to the field being announced were pretty nerve-wracking. Having been firmly planted within the top five for most of the season, we have really just been waiting to see if we got the free pass to the second round and who we would potentially be playing in the first match."
 
The single elimination tournament begins with eight first-round games on May 17, starting at 1:30 p.m. CDT. This is a change from Monday's announcement. After the first round, all games in the men's tournament will begin at 1:00 p.m. CDT.
 
Number 5 Dalton State awaits the winner of a first round match between No. 12 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) and No. 21 Marian (Ind.).  

"Both teams won their respective conference tournaments this season and were part of the national tournament last year. We have our work cut out for us.  Both of these teams will be hungry, prepared, and looking to make a name for themselves by knocking off the number five team," said Rogers. "We've had a great season so far and I have no doubt  that the guys are going to leave it all on the court and try to bring the national championship back to Dalton."

Top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett awaits the winner of a Tuesday battle between No. 16 Olivet Nazarine (Ill.) and No. 17 Mobile. No. 9 Lewis-Clark State (Id.) will open against No. 24 Hastings (Neb.) for the right to play No. 9 Coastal Georgia in the second round. The winner of a match between No. 13 Reinhardt (Ga.) and No. 20 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) will face Northwestern Ohio on Wednesday.
 
No. 3 Xavier (La.) will play the winner of an opening round contest between No. 14 Westmont (Calif.) and No. 19 Bethany (Ks.). No. 6 Kaiser (Fla.) will play Wednesday against the winner of a match between No. 22 Missouri Baptist and the SSAC's No. 11 seeded William Carey.
 
SSAC Tournament Champion and No. 2 seeded Auburn Montgomery waits until Wednesday to play the winner of a game between No. 15 McPherson (Ks.) and No. 18 Warner (Fl.). No. 7 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) waits to play the victor of an opening round match between No. 10 Aquinas (Mich.) and No. 23 Our Lady of the Lakes (Tx.).