Mobile, Al. – No. 5 Dalton State (19-5) advanced to the semi-final round of the NAIA National Championship Tournament at Mobile Tennis Center on Thursday. The Roadrunners will now face No. 1 ranked Georgia Gwinnett on Friday.
 
Dalton State had taken a 3-0 lead out of doubles, but it took a gutty three set singles win by senior Sebastian Dartnell to squeeze out a 5-4 win over No. 4 Northwestern Ohio.
 
Doubles:

1. Adam Hornby/Nikolay Nikiforov (DS) def. Rik van Gerwin/Austen Hammett (NOH), 8-3
2. Edberg Espinoza/Joe Bray (DS) def. Daniel Rueda/Tommy Johansson (NOH), 8-5
3. Jose Ruda/Sebastian Dartnell (DS) def. Theo Baudin/Justen Baciu ,9-8 (3)

Singles:

1. Daniel Rueda (NOH) def. Edberg Espinoza (DS), 6-0, 6-3
2. Rik van Gerwin (NOH) def. Jose Ruda (DS), 6-0, 6-1
3. Tommy Johansson (NOH) def. Nikolay Nikiforov (DS), 1-6, 6-1, 6-2
4. Joe Bray (DS) def. Theo Baudin (NOH), 6-2, 7-6
5. Justin Baciu (NOH) def. Adam Hornby (DS_, 6-1, 2-6, 6-1
6. Sebastian Dartnell (DS) def. Ronnie Myburgh (NOH), 7-6, 4-6, 6-2

 
"What a win for the Roadrunners today," said DS Coach Zack Rogers. "Northwestern Ohio did exactly what you would expect a team of their caliber to do. I couldn't be prouder of this group of guys."
 
The Roadrunners and Georgia Gwinnett are scheduled to meet Friday at 1:00 p.m. CDT. Georgia Gwinnett advanced Thursday by defeating Coastal Georgia, 5-0.
 
The other semi-final match will have No. 3 Xavier (La.) playing No. 7 Lindsey Wilson at 1:00 p.m. Xavier defeated Keiser (Fl.), 5-3, and Lindsey Wilson surprised No. 2 Auburn Montgomery, 5-3.
 
 

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