MAGNOLIA, Ark. – After a spring campaign abruptly shortened due to the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern Arkansas Men's Tennis is back in action after a 324-day hiatus. The Muleriders are set to open the 2021 campaign in Arkadelphia with matches against Southwest Baptist (1/29) and Delta State (1/31). SAU and SBU play at 5 p.m. on Friday from inside Ouachita Baptist's Ward Tennis Center, before closing out the first weekend of play with a noon first serve against the Statesmen.
 
In 2020, the Muleriders finished 5-2 on the season and closed the campaign on a two match win streak which included wins over the MIAA-GAC North Division favorite Northwest Missouri (4-3) and Emporia State (7-0). This weekend's opponents are familiar to the Muleriders. A year ago in Arkadelphia, Southern Arkansas suffered a 5-2 setback against Delta State in the second spring match of the season. Three weeks later, the Muleriders knocked off #13 Southwest Baptist, the Midwest Region's No. 2 ranked team, 4-1 in Tulsa.
 
Southwest Baptist finished 2020 at 4-4. The Bearcats employ four upperclassmen on an 11-man roster. Delta State's 2020 season ended at a perfect 9-0 and included wins over SAU and Division I programs Southern Mississippi, Jackson State, and Alcorn State.
 
Southern Arkansas returns a plethora of top talent from last season including five players that saw significant time last season. Sophomore All-Americans Marko Nikoliuk and Yuri Gondouin along with Raymond Marin and Sofiane Bah as well as senior Aleksandr Pokusaev headline the SAU Men's returning core. Additionally, Atif Sheikh, Iker Brull and Jonathan Gilmore provide depth, while newcomers Benjamin Duiverman, Yuya Nakano and Ole Lukas Valkyser begin their first semester for the Muleriders.
 
Results and recaps of the matches will be made available as soon as possible at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.