ARLINGTON, Texas – UT Arlington women's tennis got back in the win column for the first time in six matches, defeating the Butler Bulldogs 6-1. The Mavericks finally broke through after picking up momentum in competitive showings in their past two matches.

UTA (3-8) got off to a strong start in doubles play. The Mavericks Court 2 duo of Elizaveta Mladentseva and Sofia Selle took a strong 6-2 win over Butler's Lauren Cook and Sophie Parr. Both Court 1 and Court 3 were at one point tied 4-4, leaving a potentially dramatic finish at hand.

Tasnime Ahamout and Natalia Gonzalez had other plans. At one point the pair trailed 4-2, but rallied to take four straight games to win the court and the doubles point for UTA. It's the second time in three matches the Mavericks have won the doubles point after not having won it in their first eight matches.

The Court 1 tilt pitting UTA's Vanja Cado — making her return to the lineup — and Diana Kaibara against Butler's Brooke Arington and Chase Metcalf was left unfinished at 5-5.

Gonzalez and Ahamout parlayed their doubles momentum into success on Court 5 and Court 6 respectively in singles action as well. Gonzalez won the first nine games of her bout, cruising to a victory in straight sets and putting UTA 2-0 ahead.

Soon after, Ahamout wrapped up a quick 6-2, 6-2 win over Elle Martin. That put UTA on the doorstep of a win, needing just one of the next four matches to go its way for a victory.

The Mavericks got the win they needed on Court 1. Kaibara battled Metcalf in a bout that was close throughout. Kaibara had won the first set 6-4, but found herself behind 5-4 in the second. The freshman, however, was undeterred, rallying to win the next three games to take Court 1 and pick up UTA's first win of March.

Mladentseva and Cado won their singles matches as well, putting further icing on the cake. Mladentseva shook off a shaky first set on Court 2 against Arington, winning the second 7-6 (7-3) in tiebreakers and stifling Arington's comeback bid to win 10-8 in the super tiebreaker third.

Cado won her opening set on Court 3 6-4, but had to work from behind after falling into a 3-1 deficit in the second. The sophomore battled back to eventually force tiebreakers, defeating Sienna Miles 7-1 to win her bout and capping off a strong return to action.

Next on the docket for UTA is a match against the Tarleton State Texans. The match is set for 11 a.m. Friday at the UTA Tennis Center. 

UTA 6, BU 1
Singles

1. Diana Kaibara (UTA) def. Chase Metcalf (BU) 6-4, 7-5
2. Elizaveta Mladentseva (UTA) def. Brooke Arington (BU) 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 10-8 
3. Vanja Cado (UTA) def. Sienna Miles (BU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1)
4. Sophie Parr (BU) def. Sofia Selle (UTA) 6-3, 6-1 
5. Natalia Gonzalez (UTA) def. Lauren Cook (BU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Tasnime Ahamout (UTA) def. Elle Martin (BU) 6-2 ,6-2 

Order of finish: 5, 6, 4, 1, 3, 2

Doubles

1. Vanja Cado/Diana Kaibara (UTA) vs. Brooke Arington/Chase Metcalf (BU) 5-5, unfinished
2. Elizaveta Mladentseva/Sofia Selle (UTA) def. Lauren Cook/Sophie Parr (BU) 6-2
3. Tasnime Ahamout/Natalia Gonzalez (UTA) def. Sienna Miles/Jordan Schildcrout (BU) 6-4  

Order of finish: 2, 3