Coming into this academic year, there was a paradox on campus for the UT Arlington Mavericks. One team sport dominates all the others for conference championships and postseason wins. However, that same team sport had the longest drought between conference titles.
At 12, this program was second to all UTA sports in the conference title tally, with the men's tennis team taking the lead with 13 thanks to two WAC titles in a row. Men's indoor track was tied at 12 while the outdoor squad and women's tennis had 11.
Coming in, all those previous teams kept adding titles with the last decade or less. The program in question hadn't won a title in the previous 21 seasons. But no longer.
For the first time in 22 seasons, the UTA Mavericks volleyball team is atop the standings as the 2024 Western Athletic Conference champions. They are now the fifth of 15 programs to get a WAC trophy, joining men's cross country (2012), baseball (2013), men's tennis (2023, 2024) and women's tennis (2023).
They clinched a share of the title on Saturday when Utah Valley closed the home portion of the conference schedule. The Mavericks and Wolverines went five sets in Orem Utah in October but the Mavs needed the bare minimum for the sweep.
UTA won every statistical category save digs, which was an even tie. On top of that, though there was little doubt it wouldn't occur on homecoming weekend. that the 1,037 on hand meant for the first time in program history, the average attendance for one season is in four figures.
The win also secured a share of the WAC title.
For the second consecutive week, UTA played on Monday with a short trip to Stephenville. Last-place Tarleton was playing for a berth in the conference tournament in addition to thwarting UTA's quest to be alone at number one in the WAC.
It was a tale of two matches in the four-set UTA win. The three sets UTA won, they did it in dominating fashion as the closest the Texans would get was 16. The one set TSU won, they only allowed UTA to get to 16. It was as if the teams traded jerseys rather than exchange sides.
Like UVU, UTA won all the statistical categories. Unlike UVU, there were no ties. While the individual stat line was spread out in the UVU win, the same cannot be said against Tarleton. Graduate Student Brianna Ford, the outstanding outside hitter, led all with 19 kills. Fellow GS middle blocker Paige Reagor logged eight blocks and helped the Mavericks dominate the net. Sophomore Samantha Glenn has been picking up the pace at Libero as the season has aged and recorded 18 digs. I saved Graduate senior setter Mollie Blank's 53 assists for last. The reigning setter of the week has been in her own class within the WAC.
The 2024 WAC champions have two matches left to try and finish the conference season undefeated. The Mavs go to travel partners Southern Utah on Thursday and Utah Tech on Saturday. The Cedar City match is scheduled for 7:30 pm and in Saint George, the service time is set for 11 am.
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