WT: Mavs look to resolve unfinished business at SBC championship
4/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 21, 2016
No. 3 UT Arlington (16-4) vs. No. 6 Louisiana (11-9)
Friday | New Orleans | New Orleans City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center
UTA Notes | Championship Central | Audio | Stats | Twitter
By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas - In last season's Sun Belt Championship tournament, UT Arlington was just a game away from claiming the conference title against South Alabama. In the 2016 version, UTA enters with determination, experience and drive to make another run as it opens against Louisiana on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
The third-seeded Mavericks ended the regular season 64th in the ITA/Oracle Collegiate Rankings and are one of three teams in a competitive conference ranked, joining top-seed Georgia State (46) and defending champ South Alabama (53). UTA is 16-4 and just two wins shy of tying to all-time program record for wins in a season.
"We are going to take it one match at a time," UT Arlington coach Diego Benitez said. "We open against Louisiana and played them not too long ago. Overall, the girls are really looking forward to it and embracing the tournament.
"They remember the sour taste of last year. They maybe came in to it a little bit too excited about their seed. We couldn't really perform where we wanted and they have a taste of unfinished business.
UTA is 7-3 all-time against the Ragin' Cajuns, including a sweep of Louisiana on its home court in March.
Several Mavericks continue to move up into the all-time top-10 lists in program history. Senior Elizabeth Thoms is fourth in career singles victories with 72 and just two shy of third, while she is sixth in doubles history with 64 wins. Sophomore Agustina Serio is a team-best 23-6 overall in singles and is just a win shy of tying for 10th in single-season history.
The winner of the match will play at 10 a.m. on Saturday against No. 2 South Alabama, No. 7 Texas State, or No. 10 Arkansas State in the semifinals.
Follow @UTAMavsTennis for updates throughout the tournament.
