Nov. 13, 2010
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Final Stats
ARLINGTON, Tex. - Bianca Sauls and Amanda Aguilera notched double-doubles, allowing UT Arlington to celebrate Senior Day in style by beating UTSA 3-0 Saturday evening at Texas Hall.
Sauls and Aguilera spearheaded a Mavericks attack that finished with a .341 hitting percentage - the best total of the season. The 32-30, 25-20, 25-23 victory also marked UTA's seventh straight heading into the Southland Conference Tournament next week.
"It feels great," UTA coach Diane Seymour said. "Any time you can beat the No. 1 team in your division, it's a good feeling. UTSA is a quality team, so hats off to these ladies. We were just fantastic. After a slow start in the first set, we jumped out a little bit in a timeout and turned themselves around intensity wise the rest of the way. I never felt like we weren't in control. I still felt good about the way my team was responding and the way we were playing as well."
UTA (16-14, 10-6) trailed 18-12 at one point in the first set but bounced back behind an impressive offensive assault. The Mavs fended off set point twice once the Roadrunners got to 24 points and, after forcing a tie-breaker, didn't trail the remainder of the set.
The Mavs controlled Game 2 for the most part. UTSA (19-11, 13-3) tied the match at 20 before the Mavs rattled off the set's final five points to close out the game. UTA went on to a close win in the third set to close out the match.
"I think it's a big confidence boost heading into the conference tournament," senior Raegan Daniel said. "We're just so excited about that."
Aguilera led all hitters with 19 kills while also recording 16 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. Aguilera's 19 kills are tied for the most an SLC player has produced in a three-set match this season.
Sauls, in the last home match of her career, earned her ninth double-double of the year with 11 kills and 15 digs to go along with her .500 attack percentage.
"I just really treated it like any other game - not like it was Senior Night," Sauls said. "I just tried to treat it like any other conference home game. I just think it's amazing that we got that seventh straight win to head into the conference tournament."
Tara Frantz added 13 kills, marking the 12th time in her last 13 matches that she recorded 10-plus kills. She also had three blocks.
Daniel finished the match with 45 assists and helped the team hit at an efficient rate by keeping the offense balanced.
Libero Alicia Shaffer accumulated a match-high 17 digs.
Christy Driscoll finished her final home match with three kills and three blocks and Emily Shearin had six kills.
Seniors Sauls, Daniel and Driscoll were honored before the start of Saturday's match.
"I love it here," Daniel said. "It's a big home-court advantage here with the stage. I'm going to be sad to leave."
Kendra Rowland led the Roadrunners with 14 kills.
With the win, the Mavericks enter the SLC Tournament as the No. 4 seed. Their opponent depends on tonight's final match. If Lamar beats Stephen F. Austin, UTA would face Lamar in the first round. If the Ladyjacks win, the Mavs would play Sam Houston State on Friday.
The SLC Tournament begins Friday in Huntsville.
For more on Senior Day reflections, please go to the Volleyball blog found on the front page of UTAMavs.com.
