RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – With opening serve of the 2019 NCAA Division II Tennis season beginning this weekend, the Great American Conference released the first of two preseason coaches polls on Wednesday afternoon, beginning with the women's rankings. Among the seven league schools that field women's tennis programs, the GAC's newest squad in Southern Arkansas, which begins its first spring competition in six years, is ranked fourth in the poll after receiving 23 total points to go along with a single first-place vote.
 
The Mulerider Women, under the direction of first-year head coach Greg Owen, finished a single point back of Arkansas Tech for third-place, while defending conference champion Oklahoma Baptist edged Harding for the poll's top spot, despite the latter garnering the most first-place votes with four.
 
Just three points back of Southern Arkansas in the poll is Southeastern Oklahoma State (20) with Henderson State (11) and Ouachita (6) rounding out the rankings.
 
SAU opens the season on February 8 and 9 in Memphis, Tennessee, with matches scheduled against Spring Hill College, Christian Brothers and West Georgia. Southern Arkansas opens its home schedule, the first collegiate action on the renovated Live Oaks Tennis Courts, on February 22 at 10 a.m. against Missouri – St. Louis.
 
A full season preview of the SAU Women's Tennis squad will be available on www.MuleriderAthletics.com in the coming days.