Sept. 28, 2008
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EL PASO, Texas - The UTEP volleyball team defeated Houston, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon to pick up their first league victory during Conference-USA opening weekend at Memorial Gym.
The Miners defeated the Cougars 25-23, 25-22 and 25-17 to improve to 5-10 overall and 1-1 in C-USA play.
"This win was a good way to bounce back from Friday's loss to Rice," head coach Ken Murphy said. "We've been playing better as the season has progressed, but you really need those wins to validate your game."
UTEP combined for a .412 hitting percentage and shut out the Houston attack in the final two sets as the Cougars hit a combined .000.
"We played the same game we've been playing," Murphy added. "The difference was making big plays when we needed them. We served well, attacked aggressively and blocked against the attack successfully."
Outside hitter Irma Blanco provided the spark for the Miners, rallying up the bench and the crowd with impressive kills and attacks in key situations.
Tied at 13, the Bel Air graduate gave UTEP its first lead of the match with a powerful kill that brought the crowd to its feet. A Cougar kill would tie the set at 14, and once again Blanco's kill gave the Miners the lead with a second kill.
Late in the first set and tied at 23, the 5'9'' junior recorded her third kill to position the Miners for set point, 24-23. Blanco teamed up with senior Daidre Mendenhall to block Houston's Justine Farmer's attack and take the first set, 25-23
The Miners remained consistent at the net and took the second set in they same manner they had the first. An Amy Sanders kill put UTEP up 23-21, and following a Cougar attack error, Patty Jarmoc and Keisha Hyman-Gifth surfaced a block to send the Miners into the locker room with a 2-0 lead.
UTEP never trailed in the third set and led the Cougars 21-11 before a couple of Houston service error and kills courtesy of Mendenhall and Sanders put the Cougars away for good.
Blanco finished the night with five kills and four block assists. Junior Catherine Chavez had a match-high 14 kills and seven digs.
Sanders finished the day with nine kills, five digs and three serving aces. The Miners are currently ranked eighth in the nation in serving aces, Sanders ranks 30th amongst all NCAA Division I players.
UTEP returns to C-USA action next weekend when they travel to Alabama and Tennessee to take on UAB, Oct 3, and Memphis, Oct. 5.
