MAGNOLIA, Ark. – It just wasn't the Muleriders' morning on Wednesday in central Florida. Southern Arkansas, led by fourth-year head coach Greg Owen who had his squad in the national tournament for the second time in four years, battled (5)/#5 Embry-Riddle in a 7 a.m. central time start and despite a tough effort, the Muleriders fell 4-1 to the Eagles in the national Round of 16. Southern Arkansas' season ends at 20-6 overall.
 
The midweek action saw a top 25 battle at the top of the doubles order as the #10 team of Sander Jans and Marko Nikoliuk were topped by the #23 ranked duo of Juan Ortiz Couder and Andres Donayre 6-2. With Stuart Rehfuss and Sofiane Bah up 5-3 at No. 2, the Eagles' Alexis Guedy and Michele Iftimie managed to fend off SAU's line three pair of Ole Valkyser and Matthew Tennant 6-3 to take the opening point.
 
Leading 1-0, ERAU grabbed its first singles point at line six, while Nikoliuk, the #22 ranked singles player in the country, quickly dismissed Iftimie in the second set 6-1 after edging his opponent 7-6 (5) in the opening set to give the Muleriders its first point of the contest.
 
Southern Arkansas nearly forced a longer match as Valkyser was leading in set two and in the midst of a rally against Alvaro Diaz Rodrigo at No. 4 and Yuri Gondouin was a point away in his second set against Lukas Schnieder from claiming a line five win. However, the Eagles won at lines one and two to end the match and advance to Thursday's quarterfinals where they will take on the (4) Wayne State/(13) Southern New Hampshire winner.