[February 8, 2007]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas University opens the spring portion of its 2006-07 tennis season Friday in Magnolia. The Lady Muleriders host Delta State University in a Gulf South Conference match at 4:30 p.m.

SAU is led this season by Rachel Vinsant, a 5-8 junior from Greenville, Texas, who was a Second Team All-GSC selection last year. Vinsant was a First Team All-GSC pick in 2005. Other returning team members include Nelly Tualla, a 5-1 senior out of Nacogdoches, Texas, who was the 2004 GSC West Division Freshman of the Year and received Second Team All-GSC honors, and Aneeka Bhalla, a 5-7 junior from Nepean, Canada.

One junior joins the squad this year in Tami Chadick, 5-6, out of La Feria, Texas. The other newcomers are all freshmen, including Stephanie Fields, 5-6, from Elysian Fields, Texas, Caitlin Korensek, 5-4, out of Ennis, Texas, Candice Little, 5-10, from Texarkana, Texas, and Megan Phinny, 5-4, out of Gladewater, Texas.

Wayne Garner is in his seventh season as head coach of the Southern Arkansas tennis program.

The Lady Muleriders ended their fall season with 1-3 record, claiming a win over Oklahoma Baptist, and dropping matches against Southeastern Oklahoma State, and twice to Henderson State.

Following Friday’s match, SAU will be on the road for 10 matches before returning home on March 7 to face the University of South Dakota.

#SAU#