April 28, 2011
Arlington, Texas - After one week off from tennis competition, the UT Arlington women's tennis team is set for the 2011 Southland Conference Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.
The No. 69 Mavericks head into the tournament as the No. 1 seed after winning the SLC regular-season title with an undefeated conference record of 11-0 and a 17-4 overall mark. Along with the league title, six Mavericks earned post season honors and head coach Diego Benitez was named the SLC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.
UTA also swept all four superlative awards for the second time in conference history. Senior Daiana Negreanu was named the SLC Player of the Year while Linda Aqvist was selected as the SLC Freshman of the Year and junior transfer Natalia Mayuk earned the title of SLC Newcomer of the Year.
In three seasons, the Mavericks have accumulated a 32-1 league mark and have posted an undefeated record in 2009 and now in 2010. UTA last won the regular-season and tournament title in 2009.
UTA's impressive performance can be easily explained when looking at the individual stats.
In singles, juniors Maria Martinez-Romero, Mayuk and freshman Giada D'ortona finished SLC play undefeated (11-0). Negreanu and freshman Aqvist recorded a 10-1 mark.
Martinez-Romero once again dominated with a record of 20-1 in singles and now holds a 56-6 career record mark at UTA.
Combining their individual talents the Mavs put forth a great feat in doubles. Together, the Mavs posted a 46-16 overall and 30-3 Southland record.
The No. 2 doubles team of Martinez-Romero and Matovicova ended the regular season at 17-2 overall and 11-0 in conference, earning them a spot on the all-SLC second team.
First-team all-conference selections, Negreanu and Aqvist closed out the regular-season 10-3 and 8-1 at the No. 1 spot while D'ortona and Mayuk wrapped up the No. 3 position with an 11-2 and 9-0 mark.
UT Arlington will look for a repeat from 2009 this weekend when they take on the No. 8 seed McNeese State on Friday, April 29 in the first round of the SLC Tournament. Match time is set for 1 p.m.
