Box Score ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - A second trip to Arkadelphia in the past three days was not as fruitful as the first for #21 Southern Arkansas. The Muleriders, which entered the match 5-0 against Southwest Baptist since the two programs first met in the spring of 2020, dropped a 5-2 decision to the Bearcats on Monday afternoon from Ouachita's Ward Tennis Center.
 
SAU (1-1) struggled out of the gate losing the doubles point as SBU won at lines two and three. Ben Schneider and Sander Jans won at doubles No. 1 with a 6-1 final over the Bearcats' Makary Adamek and Marcio Silva.
 
In singles action, first-semester Mulerider Mathieu Wierniezky won at No. 2 as he beat SBU's Yousef Nabil 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The match featured three three-set singles decisions with SAU managing to claim just the one at line two, while SBU won at lines five and six. Ole Valkyser claimed the win at No. 3 with a 6-4, 6-4 decision over Silva.
 
The Muleriders turn the page and look ahead to Sunday, February 19 for a pair of matches against Gulf South Conference competition in the 2023 home opener. SAU plays host to West Alabama at 10 a.m. and meets Mississippi College at 2 p.m. The Mulerider Men are 21-1 at home since the start of the 2018-19 season and have won nine consecutive matches in Magnolia. It's last loss at home came in the 2022 home opener: a 5-2 decision to #20 West Alabama. Live coverage links from the Live Oak Tennis Courts will be available at www.MuleriderAthletics.com.