Sept. 17, 2010
Final Stats
UTA-UTEP Box Score 
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ARLINGTON, Tex. - Ever since Amanda Aguilera worked her way into the starting lineup four matches ago she has played like she doesn't want to leave.
The junior outside hitter turned in another strong performance Friday night in UT Arlington's 3-0 victory over UTEP at Texas Hall.
"It has meant a lot to play this well," Aguilera said. "It was really hard for me to be on the bench. I had talked to (UTA coach Diane Seymour) and I just needed to play better. I needed to work harder. I needed to put away more balls and make fewer errors. When I got my chance, I had nothing to lose. I needed to go back to the old me and swing as hard as I could, so I did."
Aguilera finished the match with 14 kills and eight digs.
The 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 win made the Mavericks 1-0 in the UT Arlington Hilton Invitational.
Seymour knows the improved production from the outside hitter spot is a primary reason why her team snapped out of its five-match losing streak.
The Mavericks (4-8) started hot Friday, compiling a .455 attack percentage in the first game and finishing with a season-best .307 percentage for the night.
"We picked up our intensity in practice a lot this week and challenged them that it has to come from you guys to get this ship sailing in the right direction," Seymour said. "We said, `You're going to have to get a little bit more confident and a little bit more consistent. They were too high-error and not very confident last weekend. This was a big weekend for us. We are about to go on the road to start matches in Southland Conference league play. What we do this weekend needs to be a sign to where we're headed."
Aguilera certainly turned in a good night but was not the only hot hand for the Mavericks. Tara Frantz finished the night with 10 kills and had an attack percentage of .875 through two games. She ended her night with a season-best .368 percentage.
Bianca Sauls also had 10 kills, four digs and four assists.
Setter Raegan Daniel, as usual, led the offensive onslaught with her keen distribution of passes. The senior finished the night with 33 assists.
Alicia Shaffer, who came off the bench for three matches last weekend, led the defensive effort with 12 digs.
"Any time a player gets her position taken from her and she earns it back, it's a good sign because it means they're working hard and wanting to get better," Seymour said. "I think it's a good sign both Alicia and Amanda took it as a challenge and took their games to another level."
Kendall Whitson added 10 digs of her own.
Melissa Toth led UTEP (7-4) with 10 kills. Patty Jarmoc led the Miners with nine digs and 27 assists.
UTA hosts two more games Saturday, against Prairie View A&M at 1:30 p.m. and against North Texas at 7:30 p.m.
