April 16 was a milestone for the UT Arlington Athletic Department as both tennis teams won their final regular season matches to claim a conference championship, the first of any team in the UTA Athletic Department this year. As this was the first year the Mavericks were back in the WAC, it marks two important championships.
The women's team is no stranger to winning titles. They are now back-to-back-to-back champs, with the prior two coming in their last two years in the Sun Belt Conference. But for the men, it's the first regular season title since 2010. Now, in 2016, they were near the top of the SBC, but the seedings weren't based on conference matches as the SBC didn't play a round-robin schedule. But outside of that, their tenure in the SBC wasn't one of winning. Only three of nine seasons saw them finish in the top half.
The WAC (re)tenure started with a bang for both teams.
The women's team started the WAC right where they left off in the Sun Belt. After a 23-3 record last year, the ladies are 17-3 to this point with postseason play on tap. Last year's 9-1 conference record was near mirrored again with a 8-1 conference mark in 2023.
The men were even more dominant in conference play. They went through the WAC undefeated at 5-0. The closest win was a 5-2 decision against second-place Abilene Christian. Two wins against UTRGV and Seattle U ended in a 6-1 victory. UTA had two 7-0 sweeps against New Mexico State and Grand Canyon. They finished the season with a 14-7 record overall to go with that 5-0 WAC record.
Postseason awards were announced earlier today and the Mavericks were well represented.
Women's coach Diego Benitez was named coach of the year. Ana Paula Jimenez earned first-team WAC recognition while Sarina Reinersten and Tara Gorinsek earned second team singles. The doubles combo of Gorinsek and Jimenez along with Reinersten and Liz Chileno earned first team doubles honors.
In an odd note, two Tarleton St players earned player and freshman of the year, respectively. Two TSU players earned first team, along with two GCU players. Odd considering both finished below UTA in the standings. TSU finished 7-2 and lost to UTA 6-1 in Stephenville. GCU finished 6-3, losing to UTA 4-3 in Arlington. In fact, UTA's lone loss was to Seattle, 4-3 in Seattle, who would win only one other WAC game.
Postseason accolades were abundant for the men as well. Santiago Giamichelle won freshman of the year. Like the women, it was odd that second place Abilene Christian won player and coach. However, half the first team singles selections came from the Mavericks: Giamichelle, Anton Shepp and Solano Caffarena. Dante Teramo landed on the second team. As for doubles, Caffarena and Shepp were on the doubles first team while Teramo and Giamichelle made the second team. No other team landed more than one entry.
The conference tournament starts Thursday in Arlington. The ladies open up at noon against eight seed Sam Houston. The men play at noon on Friday and will await the UTRGV/Seattle U winner. A trip to the NCAA Tournament is on the line.
In UTA's first time around in the WAC, the collective Mavericks started and ended the athletic season with a conference championship, as the men's cross country and baseball teams got the first two. The Athletic Department can now add the two tennis teams to that mark. Sports left this year to try for their own championship include both gender outdoor track and field teams, men's golf, softball and baseball.
After watching the indoor season, I don't believe either gender will have a title, despite several talented performers. Men's golf has had a strong season and have an outside shot. Softball is in a tie for fifth at 9-9, four games back. With six games remaining, the shot is highly unlikely. Baseball is third at the moment, but are 2.5 games back of Sam Houston. They have a series against them, giving a good chance. I think their best bet is in the tournament. If the Mavericks get past the first two days, where offense tends to take over in game three and beyond, they have as good a chance as anyone with the way they have hit this year.
Regardless of how the rest of the year shapes out, kudos to the tennis teams for claiming the first conference titles of the 2022/23 athletic year.
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