ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas Women's Tennis snapped an eight-match losing streak on Wednesday afternoon in Arkadelphia and the hump day victory couldn't have come at a better time as a 5-2 decision at Ouachita sent fourth-year head coach Greg Owen's Mulerider Women into the win column in the Great American Conference opener.
 
In doubles action, Kalley Smith and Simone Simas claimed a 6-3 victory over the Tigers' Olivia Gaston and Clarisa Valenzuela at No. 2. At No. 3, it was Sarah Roy and Serena Gill that topped OUA's Makeilah Turner and Taylor Hansard 6-1 to put Southern Arkansas up 1-0 heading into singles play.
 
With wins at lines two through five, SAU cruised to a league-opening victory. Roy blanked Turner 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2. Simas nearly did the same at No. 3 winning 6-1, 6-1 over Gaston. At No. 4, Gill won 6-3, 6-0 against Valenzuela and the fifth point came in a 6-4, 6-2 showing by Smith over Shelly Davilus.
 
The victory marked the tenth in league play for the Mulerider Women since the program's rebirth for the 2018-19 campaign. SAU is 3-0 in league openers.
 
SAU returns to action on Saturday, April 9 at the Live Oak Tennis Courts for a high stakes GAC affair against Arkansas Tech. First serve is set for 2 p.m. Live streaming of multiple courts can be found at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.