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Tennis recruits raise hopes for win in the Southland Tournament

Written by Will Doan, The Shorthorn staff

Thursday, 21 January 2010 10:11 PM

In the Southland Conference Tournament last spring, the UTA men’s tennis team made an early exit in the first round, losing 1-4 to Southeastern Louisiana. The 2009 season overall record of 9-13 doesn’t exactly describe last year’s team, head coach Diego Benitez said.

Interdisciplinary studies senior Dmitry Minkin jumps to return the ball during practice April 23, 2008 at the Tennis Center. The UT Arlington men's tennis team lost 4-0 to UTSA in the semifinals of the Southland Conference Tournament in Nacogdoches. (The Shorthorn: File Photo)

“We had a lot of freshmen,” Benitez said. “The team was good. But I like to schedule the best matches for my team so we can get ranked.”

This year the men’s team is more prepared and equipped with a full roster as they prepare to battle in the SLC, sophomore Jason Lateko said. In addition to the seven players returning, UTA’s new recruits of freshmen Paul Amri, Yauheni Yakauleu and Giacomo Sano are sure to help the team, assistant coach Marco Matteucci said.

Lateko says it’s good to have a full roster.

“With more players, there’s more competition,” he said. “It creates more closeness between us.”

The team had great success luring Yakauleu to UTA, who was a top junior player from Belarus, Benitez said.

“We are very fortunate to have him,” he said. “He can be inserted anywhere in the lineup for us.”

Along with Yakauleu, Giacomo Sano from Aragua, Venezuela, brings a good work ethic to UTA, Benitez said.

“Especially for a freshman, he cares a lot about the team,” Benitez said. “He pushes himself to the next level and it shows. He’s got a lot of heart.”
The Mavs have high hopes this season, including winning the SLC title.

“The men’s team will have a pretty good shot,” Matteucci said. “They had a strength and conditioning coach [Kathy Wagner] who gave them a workout plan during the break.”

The workout plan included circuit training, as well as aerobic and anaerobic exercises.

The NCAA has penalized Texas A&M-Corpus Christi from postseason play, giving the Mavs an increased chance at the SLC title. TAMCC is one of UTA’s biggest challenges every season. Since 2005, UTA has a five-game losing streak against the Islanders. However, the Mavs first test of the season will be against a local foe, No. 38 ranked TCU on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Tennis Center.

When Benitez was asked, in anticipation for the upcoming match up against TCU, on Sunday he replied, “They are ranked because they played ranked teams.”

“For men by men, there is no obstacle for us beating them.”

Since 2003, the Mavs have been on a six-game losing streak against TCU. The two teams didn’t play last year due to cancelation.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 January 2010 10:12 PM )

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