MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After competing in the fall of 2018 which signified the official return of the program as sponsored athletic teams at Southern Arkansas, the Mulerider Men's and Women's Tennis squads open their 2019 campaign this weekend in Memphis at the Southhaven Tennis Center. This marks the official end of a lengthy hiatus in spring competition for both programs.
 
The SAU Men will match with Spring Hill College at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, February 8 and will turn around and play a pair of teams on Saturday: host Christian Brothers at 9 a.m. and Rhodes College at 1 p.m. For the SAU Women, their first two opponents along with start times are the same as the SAU Men, but the women will close the season-opening campaign at 1 p.m. on Saturday against West Georgia.
 
Fourteen student-athletes make the trip with head coach Greg Owen and graduate assistant Ruben Vanoppen with eight men and six women set to compete. Below are the SAU Men and Women in action this weekend.
 
SAU WOMEN
Aurora Novati
Joanna Nowakowska
Brenda Teixeira
Serena Gill
Lena Milosevic
Simone Simas
 
The Lady Muleriders were picked fourth in the GAC Coaches Preseason Poll and are highlighted by a pair of players that claimed titles last fall at the GAC Individual Championships.
 
SAU MEN
Stuart Rehfuss
Marko Nikoliuk
Yuri Gondouin
Natiphat Mulada
Raymond Marin Garcia
Iker Brull
Gustavo Kerber
Aleksandr Pokusaev
 
The SAU Men were tabbed a fourth place ranking in the GAC Coaches Preseason Poll and feature four players that advance to semifinal action last fall at the league's individual championships.
 
For match results, be sure to visit www.MuleriderAthletics.com.