Sept. 28, 2009
CROSS COUNTRY
Upcoming: The Miners will run in the Bill Dellinger Invitational on Saturday in Eugene, Ore.
Looking Back: Freshman Risper Kimaiyo claimed her third straight meet title to open the season, leading the UTEP women to a second-place finish at the Kachina Classic on Sept. 19 in Las Cruces. The Miner men scored 31 points to win the 8K meet over New Mexico (52 points), NM State (59), Dine College (102) and El Paso Community College (138). The women's 5K finish was much closer as New Mexico topped all teams with 29 points while UTEP put up 33. The tandem of Kimaiyo and Kathya Garcia teamed for a one-two finish for the second consecutive week with times of 18:07.7 and 18:13.9, respectively. Robert Menjo was the top finisher for the Miners on the men's side, taking third with a time of 26:03.1 as All-American Nicodemus Ng'etich followed in fourth place in 26:34. Justice Chirchir gave the UTEP men a third spot in the top five, clocking in at 26:37.5 to finish fifth. Rounding out the top five for the men were Felix Maritim (27:00.8, 11th place) and Elkana Rotich (27:02.8, 12th). Karina Garcia (sixth-18:38.9), Jepchirchir Kigen (11th-19:02.4) and Gladys Chumba (13th -19:11.5) completed the top five for the UTEP women.
FOOTBALL
Upcoming: UTEP (1-3) hosts Houston (3-0) in the Conference USA opener for both schools on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Sun Bowl -- the Miners' second game in a row versus a top-25 team. The Cougars are rated 12th by the Associated Press and 15th by USA Today. It marks UTEP's 78th Homecoming game. The Miners are 34-42-1 all-time on Homecoming. UTEP has won seven of its last 11 Homecoming contests, including a 24-21 victory over Tulane last season. UTEP is 4-0 in Conference USA openers, beating Houston at home in 2005 (44-41 in double overtime), SMU at home in 2006 (24-21), SMU on the road in 2007 (48-45 in overtime) and UCF at home in 2008 (58-13). The Miners are also 4-0 in C-USA home openers, including a 48-47 triumph over Tulsa in 2007. UTEP's all-time record in conference openers is 28-36-1 (15-8-1 Border Conference, 9-28 WAC, 4-0 C-USA).
Looking Back: Colt McCoy threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns as second-ranked Texas racked up 638 yards of offense in spoiling UTEP's first visit to Austin since 1933 with a 64-7 win over the Miners on Saturday. After Melvin Stephenson knotted the game at 7 early in the first quarter with a 49-yard interception return, the Longhorns scored 57 unanswered points. Other offensive stars for Texas were Vondrell McGee (eight carries-104 yards) and Jordan Shipley (10 catches-122 yards). UTEP's offense, meanwhile, was completely flustered by the Longhorns as the Miners finished with only 53 yards.
MEN'S GOLF
Upcoming: UTEP joins the field of the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate Oct. 5-6 in Palm Desert, Calif.
Looking Back: The Miners finished 17th in their first tournament of the season, the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate in Albuquerque, N.M. Sept. 11-12. The Miners posted rounds of 305, 303 and 314 for a two-day total of 922. UNLV won the 17-team event (282-273-288-843), and had two players tie for the individual title - Derek Ernst (67-68-73-208) and Colby Smith (73-64-71-208). UTEP was led by senior Tanner Taff, who tied for 61st place with an 11-over-par 227 (77-72-78-227). Four UTEP freshmen participated in the tournament, with Jerry Castrellon tying for 69th place (76-79-74-229), Devin Miertschin tying for 75th place (74-75-82-231), David Persons tying for 96th place (78-78-82-238) and Chris Ortiz tying for 102nd place (84-78-80-242).
WOMEN'S GOLF
Upcoming: UTEP will play in the ORU Invitational Oct. 5-6 in Tulsa, Okla.
Looking Back: UTEP played in two tournaments the week of Sept. 14. The Miners finished 17th at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational Sept. 19-20 in Albuquerque, with Pepperdine winning the 18-team tournament. The Miners put together rounds of 308, 301 and 308 for a total of 917. Deborah Martinez and Teresa Nogués tied for 50th place, each carding a nine-over-par 228 to lead UTEP. Shang-Fan Huang tied for 70th place (232), Rosana Gomez tied for 80th place (236) and Stephanie Herrera tied for 84th place (237). The Miners also took 14th place at the Ptarmigan/Ram Fall Classic in Fort Collins, Colo. Sept. 14-15. UTEP compiled a total of 905 with rounds of 305, 297 and 303. Idaho won the 16-team tournament (291-277-291-859). Martinez tied for 40th place with an eight-over-par 224 (74-75-75). Huang tied for 49th place (82-70-74-226), Herrera finished 57th (77-76-75-228), Gomez tied for 64th (77-76-79-232) and Samantha Garza tied for 73rd (77-76-83-236).
RIFLE
Upcoming: The Miners will shoot against Nevada on Saturday at the UTEP Rifle Range.
2009-10 Preview: After finishing ninth nationally a season ago, the Miners come into the 2009-10 campaign loaded with ammunition. All-American Andrea Palafox and teammate Josie Burzynski look to lead the program to prominence once again after participating in the NCAA Rifle Championships last season. Also returning is UTEP's only senior, Morgan Glenn, and sophomore standout Alix Moncada, who stormed onto the scene at midseason as a freshman and shot an average of 585 in air rifle. Two new faces have been added to the roster -- Hanna Muegge and Xentri Garza.
SOCCER
Upcoming: UTEP (8-2) plays at Memphis on Friday and at UAB on Sunday.
Looking Back: The Miners extended their winning streak to five matches with victories over Tulsa, 2-1, and SMU, 2-0, over the weekend at University Field. The Miners vaulted to a 2-0 lead at the half on goals by Tameka Sumter (27:18) and Chelsea Winbush (39:50) versus Tulsa and never looked back in the Conference USA opener for both squads. The Miners overwhelmed the Golden Hurricane from the opening whistle, outshooting them 28-7 (12-3 in shots on goal). The Orange and Blue generated eight corners to the four by TU, and dictated pace of play for the majority of the match. Led by timely goals from Skye Schultz (5:50) and Anoop Josan (60:54) and a stellar effort by goalkeeper Chandra Morden, the Miners downed rival SMU. Morden made a season-high 11 stops, several of the point-blank variety, in her best showing of the year. Brittany Vacca, Winbush and Tess Hall all added assists for the Miners.
TENNIS
Upcoming: UTEP will participate in the Stephen F. Austin Invite on Friday and Saturday in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Looking Back: The Miners opened up their 2009-10 season in style with a solid showing across the board at the Miner Fall Invite Sept. 18-20 in Las Cruces. UTEP fashioned a record of 16-8 in singles matches and 10-4 in doubles play. Freshman Veronika Makashov led the way by going 4-0 on the way to taking home the crown in Flight C Singles. She then joined Carolina DeLuca to form the winning tandem in Flight B doubles. Other highlights were DeLuca and freshman Austin Lavallii earning runner-up honors in Flight A and Flight C, respectively. Martina Trierweiler took home third place in the top flight while Carla Murguia secured fourth place in Flight C. In Flight B, Alexandra Glebova won the back-draw bracket. Trierweiler/Glebova took home second place in Flight A doubles while the Miners accounted for three of the top four slots in Flight B doubles.
VOLLEYBALL
Upcoming: UTEP (9-7, 2-1 C-USA) travels to Houston for weekend matches against Rice (Friday) and Houston (Saturday).
Looking Back: The Miners won two of three matches at Memorial Gym last week. After falling in four sets to NM State on Tuesday, UTEP regrouped to top C-USA foes SMU, 3-0, and Tulsa, 3-2. The Miners broke the Mustangs' seven-match winning streak with a 25-22, 25-23, 25-16 triumph. UTEP limited the Mustang hitters to a combined .051 attack percentage. Amy Sanders (12 kills, 13 digs) and Catherine Chavez (11 kills, 13 digs) each recorded double-doubles for the Miners. Three Miners posted double-digit kills against Tulsa. Chavez was outstanding for the Miners once again, racking up a season-best 19 kills and tallying 13 digs. UTEP also received double-digit performances from seniors Aidan Mooney (14 kills) and Irma Blanco (12 kills), while libero Jennifer Nolasco had a career day with 32 digs. The Miners rallied from a 2-1 set deficit by claiming the fourth set 25-21 and the fifth 15-13. Chavez supplied 16 kills and 13 digs as UTEP came up short versus NM State earlier in the week.
