Finals Stats | UTA vs. USA Stats (4/23) | Championship Central

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

NEW ORLEANS - Despite dropping the doubles point for the first time in Sun Belt play, UT Arlington stormed back to defeat Louisiana 4-1 to advance to the tournament's semifinals.

The Mavericks tied their second-best season record with the 17th win of the season and are just a win shy of tying the all-time record set in 2004-05. The third-seeded Mavs (17-4) face No. 2 South Alabama (20-5) in a rematch of the 2015 championship match at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Pepsi Tennis Center in New Orleans.

"I am very happy the way the girls were able to stay concentrated in singles after losing the doubles," UT Arlington coach Diego Benitez said. "Credit to Louisiana, they played very clean and aggresive. We were able to come back very focused and determined. I am happy how we were able to get early leads and I am happy with the overall effort. It was a team effort and I am happy for the win."

After losing doubles at No. 1 and 2, UTA found itself in an unfamiliar situation in conference play after it had swept all four SBC matches this season.

The adversity would only propel the Mavs to take care of business in singles.

UTA won all six of the first sets to set the tone for the comeback. Angeles de los Rios picked up the first win to tie the match at 1-1 after the junior claimed a 6-0, 6-3 win at the No. 2 position. Senior Elizabeth Thoms joined her shortly after with a 6-4, 6-1 at the top spot followed by junior Astrid Gehre's 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 5.

Junior Jessica Birowski picked up the clinching point at No. 4. Birowski fell down early in the opening set before she took all momentum away to win 6-3, 6-3.

The Mavericks moved to 8-3 all-time against the Ragin' Cajuns. For the Mavericks to advance to Sunday's championship match for a second consecutive season, UTA will have to knock off a USA squad it has not overcome. South Alabama holds a 2-0 edge in the all-time series, both meetings taking place in conference tournament play.

Follow @UTAMavsTennis for updates throughout the Championship.