MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Three matches each highlight the weekend slate for the Mulerider Men's and Women's Tennis teams in Midlothian on Friday and Saturday. Southern Arkansas matches up against Lubbock Christian (3/1; 10AM), Western New Mexico (3/1; 5PM), and Emporia State (3/2; 9AM). The Southern Arkansas Men are looking to build off a 5-2 victory over St. Mary's last weekend, while the nationally-ranked Mulerider Women aim to keep their unbeaten record intact.
The SAU Men (4-3) match up against Western New Mexico and Lubbock Christian for the first time in program history, while the Muleriders' match against Emporia State, an MIAA North Division foe, will be the fourth meeting all-time. SAU won the previous three matches with ease winning by scores of 7-0, 6-1 and 7-0. It will be the first neutral site contest between the two foes.
Southern Arkansas has been led by a trio of players that have registered four singles wins this spring.
Ole Valkyser,
Tim Fischer and
Mathys Pinoit have recorded their wins in the top half of SAU's singles lineup. In doubles play, Valkyser and
Matthew Tennant have teamed up for four wins with Fischer and
Pierre Copin winning three times.
Lubbock Christian enters the weekend unbeaten at 4-0 this spring with Division II wins against Harding (5-2) and Metro State (4-1). LC's Martins Abamu ranked eighth in singles play at the end of the fall. Western New Mexico (4-3) has a Division II win over Colorado Mesa and has suffered exhibition losses to Division I New Mexico and New Mexico State. ESU (3-2) is coming off of an MIAA North Division win against Augustana.
The Mulerider Women (6-0) are off to their best start in NCAA program history and entered the ITA DII Top 25 at a program-high No. 22. Half of SAU's six victories have come against ranked opposition. The Muleriders will put their perfect record on the line against Lubbock Christian and Western New Mexico for the first matchups ever against both schools, while Saturday's action against Emporia State will be the fourth meeting all-time with SAU leading the series 3-0.
Annika Berrendorf and
Amelie Gindl, the two most recent Great American Conference Players of the Week, have both earned five wins in singles play this spring with the latter on a five-match win streak.
Josie Holderbach is 4-0 in singles action and
Roksana Kokocha is unbeaten in two tries at No. 6. In doubles play, Berrendorf and
Greta Wallin are 4-2 with three-straight victories, while Gindl and
Lisa Lochter are unbeaten in three efforts at No. 3. Gindl has also won twice with Holderbach.
Lubbock Christian is unbeaten in five tries this spring with Division II victories against Central Oklahoma (5-2), Harding (4-3) and Metro State (4-3). LC's Andrea De Bernardo was ranked No. 42 nationally in singles play at the conclusion of the fall season. The Chaps' Axelle Jacquemin and Anastasiia Opolska were ranked No. 23 in doubles play last fall. WNMU is 1-4 this spring with a pair of defeats to DII foes Colorado Mesa and UT-Permian Basin. ESU is winless in three matches this season with close losses to Maryville, Drury and Rockhurst.
