Bestof2015-16: Mavs tennis lift SBC trophy
8/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike
ARLINGTON, Texas - The UT Arlington sports year was filled with upsets, championships, buzzer-beaters and memorable performances that will go down in Maverick history.
Leading up to the 2016-17 seasons beginning with UTA volleyball in August UTA Athletics is making sure we do not forget the accomplishments of the past season. Running from June through August, we will be counting down the top-15 moments and performances with "Best of 2015-16" features.
Moment No. 2: Mavericks capture Sun Belt Championship, reach NCAA Tourney
Entering the 2015-16 season, UT Arlington men's tennis wasn't sure of where it was heading in terms of placement in the conference. The group had a great core with a wealth of experience, but with four freshmen expected to make an impact, lifting the trophy seemed a year or two away.
They say it is about how you are playing at the end of the season, and there wasn't a squad in the Sun Belt playing better than the Mavericks entering the SBC Championship tournament in New Orleans. UTA fought through a tough schedule that featured three ranked opponents in its final four matches, and despite dropping all three, you could see the team had taken a turn for the batter.
Using the momentum, UTA flew through the conference tournament, dropping just one match on the way to earning its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2006 and seventh conference championship in program history.
Defeating South Alabama 4-1 in the final, the Mavs earned their best record in program history at 18 wins.
UTA was selected to travel to the Norman Regional to face No. 11 Oklahoma, and like all season, it was a fight for every point. The Sooners did take the match 4-0, but a tiebreak decided doubles, and all three singles points were battles down to the final match clincher.
The Mavericks return all but one of their NCAA Tourney lineup, as Carlos Arbiza graduates as the lone senior with an impressive career record of 58-48.
Best of 2015-16 Schedule
No. 1 -- August 4
No. 2 -- Maverick tennis lifts SBC trophy
No. 3 -- Softball makes history with 19-0 start
No. 4 -- Cross country claims SBC championship
No. 5 -- Jones drills 3-pointer to lift Mavs in final moments
No. 6 -- Women's golf inks first two signees
No. 7 -- Fawehinmi breaks Paralympic world record
No. 8 -- Neal earns MBB's first-ever triple-double
No. 9 -- Women's tennis finishes undefeated at home
No. 10 -- Cox named Johnny Bench Award semifinalist
No. 11 -- Mendoza's record-breaking season
No. 12 -- Freshman duo sets standard at the net
No. 13 -- Baseball erases 10-run deficit at Georgia State
No. 14 -- Lady Mavs crush rivals on the road
No. 15 -- Guanlao shoots up leaderboard on SBC final day
