ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Fourth-year head coach Greg Owen's Muleriders came to play on Saturday as Southern Arkansas opened its 2022 campaign with a top 25 matchup with #11 Delta State and in the end it was SAU that topped the Statesmen in a tightly-contested match 4-3 from inside Ouachita's Ward Tennis Center. Southern Arkansas improves to 4-0 in season openers during Owen's tenure.
 
The Muleriders (1-0) claimed the doubles point behind spirited efforts from the teams of Sander Jans and Marko Nikoliuk and Stuart Rehfuss and Sofiane Bah. Jans and Nikoliuk topped DSU's Jordan Hays and Franco Osmar Roldan 6-3. Rehfuss and Bah bested the Statesmen's Come Bracaval and Hugo Stroppiana 6-4. Playing through, Yuri Gondouin and Ole Valkyser defeated Emile Le Terrier and Emiliano Elizarraraz del Arco 6-3.
 
Leading 1-0, singles action came down to the wire and it was Jans, Rehfuss and Bah that claimed victories at lines 1, 2, and 6 respectively that sent the Muleriders past Delta State for the first time in three meetings since 2019.
 
Jans edged Le Terrier 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5) and in his return to the Muleriders, Rehfuss rallied and knocked off Stroppiana in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. At line six, Bah relatively cruised against Osmar Roldan winning 6-3, 6-4. Lines 3, 4 and 5 all went three sets on Saturday.
 
Southern Arkansas returns to action on Monday against #19 Southwest Baptist from inside the Ward Tennis Center. First serve is set for 11 a.m.