Delhi, NY - The Northern Vermont University-Lyndon men's tennis team opened its season with a North Atlantic Conference matchup at SUNY Delhi on Saturday afternoon.  The host Broncos edged the Hornets, 5-4, gain the advantage on Lyndon in what may be a very closely contested race for NAC playoff berths.

The two teams split six singles matches.  Delhi's Jarod Rackliffe picked up a straight set win over Lyndon's Neal Mulligan (Marshfield, VT) at first singles without dropping a game, and the Broncos' Christopher Balogh downed Lyndon's Ken Niemann (AuSable Forks, NY) 6-2, 6-3 at #2 singles.

The Hornets countered when Zach Falkenburg (Bridgeport, NY) and Quinlan Peer (Saranac Lake, NY) recorded straight set wins at third and fourth singles respectively.  Falkenburg was a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Hailey Gunderson and Peer knocked off Dominick DeBonis.

Delhi's Ryan Fitzpatrick downed Lyndon's Garrick Webster (Terryville, VT) 7-6(8-6), 6-1 at fifth singles, while the Hornets' James Salvas (Morrisville, VT) picked up a tightly contested 6-4, 7-6(7-4) win over Delhi's Nathaniel Morgan at sixth singles.

With the match coming down to the doubles matches, Delhi was able to take two of three to secure the win.  Rackliffe and Balogh cruised to an 8-1 win over Mulligan and Niemann in the championship flight match, and Fitzpatrick and Morgan bested Webster and Salvas, also by an 8-1 margin.  The Hornet second doubles team of Falkenburg and Peer downed the Delhi duo of Gunderson and DeBonis, 8-2.

The Hornets will return to the courts next Saturday when they host Thomas College.  Match time and location will be determined during the upcoming week.