UTA women's tennis ready for NCAAs
5/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 9, 2011
Arlington, Texas - By Art Garcia for UTAMavs.com
The odds don't worry UT Arlington women's tennis coach Diego Benitez going into the first round of the NCAA championships. Sure, Baylor is ranked fifth in the country and will have the home court advantage Friday when the Mavericks and Bears square off in Waco.
Benitez, though, knows No. 69 UTA (20-4) is up for the challenge after sweeping through the Southland Conference undefeated to claim both the regular season and tournament championships.
"We worked real hard the whole year trying to maintain a high rank and get the No. 1 seed (in the SLC), so we'll take it," Benitez said of the match against Baylor. "It's close to home and we'll be going there really ready for it. Baylor is a good team and we need to be ready and play good that day, and anything can happen."
The Mavericks were reward for their tenacity by dominating the Southland once again.
"We had a lot of depth in our lineup," said Benitez, the SLC Coach of the Year for the second time in three years. "All the girls from No. 1 to No. 7 are extremely talented and are at a very good level. There wasn't too much difference between the positions.
"It's a very deep lineup and there's also the fact that we play very good doubles. We dominated doubles in pretty much every match that we played. Starting 1-0 going into singles gives you more confidence and makes everything easier."
The talent across the roster is the reason for that confidence and it starts at the top with Daiana Negreanu. The senior claimed the SLC Women's Player of the Year award after going 10-1 in conference at No. 1 singles and 8-1 at No. 1 doubles along with freshman Linda Aqvist.
"She's just excelled tremendously this year," Benitez said of Negreanu. "She had an injury the last couple of years, but this year she was finally healthy and 100 percent. She had great results and carried the momentum and carried the team as a leader. She's playing unbelievable ball.
"Her goal is to play pro after the season and her career finishes. She's preparing for those big challenges, so she knows she has to dominate these matches and that's what she's been doing all year long."
Swedish-born Aqvist was named SLC Freshman of the Year and second-team all-conference with a 9-1 record in No. 2 singles. Another freshman, Giada D'ortona of Italy, went 11-0 in conference showcasing her solid baseline game.
Natalia Mayuk, a junior transfer from Mississippi State and native of Russia, earned SLC Newcomer of the Year honors. Mayuk made the first-team all-SLC at No. 4 singles with another 11-0 league mark and partnered with D'ortona at No. 3 doubles, where they were first-team all-conference.
"We play two freshmen," Benitez said. "Linda played No. 2, and defended that position beautifully all year and lost only one match. Giada played No. 6 and went undefeated, didn't lose a match. Anytime that you have freshmen that can contribute that way it's excellent. We also had Natalie, who wasn't a freshman, but was a transfer. She didn't lose a match at No. 4. These three new additions worked perfectly for us."
Maria Martinez-Romero, a junior from Spain, played mainly at No. 3 singles and went 22-1 overall on the season, including 11-0 in SLC.
"She's probably the most consistent girl that we've ever had in the history of UTA," Benitez said. "She has only lost one match this year and she's lost maybe three or four throughout her career, so that's a tremendous accomplishment. She's a key factor in the lineup and she plays No. 2 or 3. It's a point that we don't worry about very much. It makes our job that much easier."
There's also junior Katarina Mlcochova, who was part of the SLC title team in 2009 and has experience in the NCAAs.
"She knows what to expect," Benitez aid. "It's not going to be a big shock for her to carry the momentum and play good ball.
Whatever happens against Baylor (25-3) won't put a damper on another great season for UTA. The Mavericks went 11-0 in the SLC this past season and are 32-1 over the last three years, with another undefeated season in 2009.
"When you come to UTA, you know that you're coming to a place with a great tradition of winning, a great legacy," Benitez said. "The girls come in knowing that and they learn to embrace that situation and they work extra hard because they know what's been happening here before they came and what's going to continue to be happening here after they leave. They want to be part of that and they really enjoy it.
"It's great to look back and see all the championships and all the banners that we've attained. We don't take anything for granted. We keep working hard and we enjoy the moment and the success that we're having and we know that some years may not be this way. We keep building better and better."
