MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Mulerider Men's Tennis team wrapped up an intense weekend of competition with a 1-1 record, narrowly falling 4-3 to #12 UT Tyler before rebounding with a dominant sweep in their first conference match of the season against Arkansas Fort Smith.

Facing the nationally ranked Patriots, the Muleriders started strong by securing the doubles point with impressive performances on lines one and two. The standout duo of Tim Fischer and Uwe Diehl delivered a statement victory, defeating the #3 nationally ranked doubles team 7-5 at line one. Meanwhile, Mathys Pinoit and Niklas Müller held their ground on line two, clinching a 6-4 win over the #33-ranked pairing.

In singles play, the Muleriders encountered tough competition, dropping matches on lines one through four. David Wallechner and Frode Neumann both pushed their opponents to three sets but ultimately fell short at lines three and four. However, seniors Jinsei Tajima and Lluc Pasqual kept the Muleriders in the fight, securing wins on lines five and six. Tajima battled through a tight contest to win 7-6, 2-6, 10-7, while Pasqual claimed victory with a 6-2, 2-1 ret. result. 

Bouncing back from the narrow loss, the Muleriders entered their first conference match of the season determined to make a statement, and they did just that with a commanding sweep of Arkansas Fort Smith. Once again, Fischer and Diehl delivered in doubles, earning another ranked victory with a 7-6 win at line one over the #41-ranked duo. This win marked a milestone for Fischer, as he reached his 30th career doubles victory. Pasqual and Tajima added to the Muleriders' momentum, securing a 6-2 victory at line two to claim the doubles point.

The momentum carried into singles play, where the Muleriders dominated across all six courts to complete the sweep. Tajima set the tone with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 win, securing the team's second point. Wallechner showed resilience at line three, battling through a three-set contest to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-0. Pinoit sealed the overall victory at line one with a hard-fought 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over the #33-ranked player.

Diehl continued the winning streak at line six, moving past his opponent in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. Pasqual delivered a solid 6-4, 6-3 victory at line five, while Fischer completed the sweep with a gritty 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (2) win against the #68-ranked player at line two.

With their first conference win under their belt, the Muleriders now turn their attention to their next matchups. They will face Mississippi College on Wednesday (March 1), followed by a showdown with West Alabama on Thursday (March 20).