Final Stats

ARLINGTON, Texas - UTA saw its 23-match home winning streak snapped by Michigan State on Sunday at the UTA Tennis Center.

The Mavericks, falling 4-3 to the Spartans (4-0) in the home opener, had opportunities to down their Big 10 foe and took a 3-2 lead with two matches still on the court. Michigan State rallied to take each of the final third sets to defeat UTA and send it to a 1-1 overall record. UTA is back in action on Monday when they return to the court against UTEP at 11 a.m.

"We wanted to get the win at home to keeping rolling, but you have to be great to beat Michigan State," UTA coach Diego Benitez said. "They were ready and fought back from diversity. They fought back from losing the doubles point, and then we were up in singles. They were able to battle back and got a few points on the board. In a 4-3 match, you have to sit back and enjoy the match. It was really great tennis."

UTA went up a point early as it cruised through doubles matches, an area in which Benitez pointed to as a key to having a chance to knock off the Spartans. Angeles de los Rios and Agustina Serio won 6-2 at No. 1 doubles, while Astrid Gehre combined with Anna Wichert to win 6-3 at No. 2.

De los Rios gave the Mavericks a 2-0 lead quickly in singles, taking her match 6-3, 6-1 at the top spot. However, MSU would start to make its comeback.

Jessica Birowski was unable to rally in the second set as she was downed 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3. Carla Cerdan Vives fell 6-2, 6-2 at No. 6 to tie the match at 2-2.

Serio improved to 2-0 in singles this season with a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 3 to edge UTA back ahead, while Wichert appeared close to finishing out the match, up in the second set.

Luck did not fall on UTA's side, however, as Gehre and Wichert both battled into a third set. Gehre couldn't replicate a strong second set to again see the match tied, this time at 3-3. Wichert nearly forced a second consecutive break, but dropped her match as the Spartans stormed the court.

UTA gets to put the setback in the back of its minds, returning to action against the Miners on Monday

"You have to turn it around quick," Benitez said. "We have to live in the present and obviously learn a little bit from the mistakes. Tomorrow is going to be a good match. UTEP is a good team. So we have to continue to play good doubles and get that point on the board."