The Southern Arkansas Muleriders have entered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Top 50 at No. 25 nationally in the organization's latest rankings released on March 6. Along with the national team rating, the Muleriders have two singles players and a doubles squad ranked among DII's best.
The Muleriders (6-4) have won two-straight matches with victories over Western New Mexico and Emporia State. All four of SAU's losses have come at the hands of opponents that are ranked inside the outlet's most recent top 20, including No. 4 Mississippi College, No. 9 UT-Tyler, No. 18 Midwestern State and No. 19 Lubbock Christian. SAU's placement nationally has sixth-year head coach Greg Owen's squad rated as the third-highest team from the Central Region behind No. 11 Ouachita and No. 13 Washburn.
Southern Arkansas prepares for two matches in Henryetta, Oklahoma this weekend taking on Arkansas-Fort Smith (1-2) on Saturday and Newman (5-4) on Sunday. Following matches No. 11 and 12 on the season, the Muleriders stare down ranked opposition at home in Magnolia in #28 Northwest Missouri (3/12).
Ole Valkyser rates at No. 54 in DII singles with teammate Tim Fischer rated at No. 64 nationally. Valkyser is 7-3 in singles action highlighted by an unbeaten 4-0 at line one. He has won three straight singles tilts entering the weekend. Fischer is 5-3 on the season with three wins at line one and two at line two. The pair have routinely swapped at the top of the order throughout the spring with Fischer's five matches leading the pair.
In doubles play, Valkyser and Lluc Pasqual are ranked No. 26 nationally.