Final Stats

By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

NEW ORLEANS - For the second consecutive season, UT Arlington's hopes of claiming a Sun Belt Championship came to an end at the hands of South Alabama.

The No. 53-ranked Jaguars (21-5) overcame early setbacks in the opening sets of singles play to down No. 64 UT Arlington (17-5) 4-3 in the SBC Championship semifinals at the Pepsi Tennis Center. The Mavericks' season will hinge on slim possibilities of an at-large selection to continue their run at the team's all-time wins record. The Mavs are just one win shy of the record set in 2005.

After South Alabama claimed two of the three doubles matches to get the opening point, UTA battled back to bring the match to 3-3.

Senior Elizabeth Thoms tasted victory with a 6-2, 6-1 win at the top spot. Thoms is 74-35 in her career after a campaign that she went 19-9 overall and 11-4 in dual-match play. Thoms' career record is tied for third all-time in UTA history, while the team's 17 wins are the second most in program history.

Angeles de los Rios pushed UTA to a 2-1 lead with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 2. After South Alabama tied it back up, Agustina Serio moved into the UTA record books with a 6-0, 7-5 win. Serio is tied for 10th in single-season wins history with her 24th win of the year.

However, with a 3-2 lead, momentum turned against the Mavericks. South Alabama closed out matches at No. 4 and No. 6 to claim its position in the Sun Belt championship.