After a record-breaking 2015 season, the UT Arlington softball program announced a highly competitive 2016 schedule highlighted by home games against Arizona and Texas at Allan Saxe Field.

UTA opens the season with three of its four nonconference tournaments at home, including the season opener versus Texas Southern on Feb. 11.

UTA coach Kristie Fox credits the exciting home schedule to several factors.

"With these new facilities and being centrally located we are a prime place for teams to travel to," Fox said. "The Sun Belt Conference is pretty spread out, which makes for a lot traveling in conference so we want to play at home at the beginning of the year as much as possible to make sure our student athletes don't miss too much class."

The opening tournament features games against Texas Southern, Missouri State, Northern Colorado and Detroit Mercy from Feb. 11-14.

In the second weekend of action, the Mavericks host Princeton and South Dakota in a three-team, round robin with games on Feb. 19-21.

The Charleston Southern Tournament begins on Feb. 26 and marks the first road trip for UTA. The Mavs open the tournament against Savannah State and Charleston Southern. The Mavericks play Delaware State in the tournament, as well.

UTA continues on the road when it heads to Southeastern Louisiana for a three-game set with the Lions on March 5-6.

The tournament schedule concludes with a highly-anticipated home weekend for the Mavericks. UTA welcomes Big 12 power Texas, who has made five trips to the College World Series, and Fox's alma mater Arizona, an eight-time NCAA champion.

"It will be a great opportunity to introduce fans to what we have to offer in the sense of gameday atmosphere," Fox said. "Bringing in teams with a strong fan base will give our players the opportunity to play at home in hopefully what is going to be a record-breaking crowd. We need to continue to get exposure against the best and this shows our commitment to preparing for the tough Sun Belt Conference."

UT Arlington opens the tournament with a highly-anticipated matchup against Texas on March 11 at 6 p.m. The Mavericks play Arizona on March 1 at 6 p.m. with Arizona and Texas playing in the prior game at 3:30 p.m. The Mavericks conclude the tournament with a game against Samford.

In another thrilling weekend at Allan Saxe Field, UTA opens Sun Belt play with a three-game series against defending conference champion Louisiana beginning on March 19.

The Mavs host Appalachian State, ULM, and Troy during Sun Belt play. UTA will honor its seniors prior to the game against Troy on May 1.

In road conference play, the Mavs head to Georgia Southern from March 25-26.

The Mavs also hit the road to take on South Alabama (April 9-10), Georgia State (April 23-24) and Texas State (May 7-8) during conference play.

This year's Sun Belt Championship is set for Mobile, Ala., with South Alabama playing host. The tournament begins on May 11.

Other nonconference games of note include the Mavericks traveling to Metroplex rival North Texas on April 6 and to Lamar on April 19. The Mavs host Cleveland State for a doubleheader on March 17.