Oct. 19, 2014
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery by Michael Patrick Reese 
El Paso, Texas – The UTEP volleyball team fell, 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-16) against C-USA newcomer Western Kentucky in Memorial Gym on Sunday afternoon.
UTEP drops to 4-16 overall, and 2-7 in Conference USA while WKU moves to 20-5, and 8-1 in the league.
Facing Western Kentucky for the first time, junior Talia Jones regulated the Miners’ offense with 10 kills from the outside. Coline Coessens and Dominique Millette chipped in five kills apiece while Lindsey Larson assisted the UTEP hitters with 24 assists. Sophomore Sarah Villa led the Miners defensively with 10 digs.
The Orange and Blue were the first to put up points on the bored as the Miners capitalized off consecutive WKU errors. However, a UTEP attack error sparked 4-0 run to give the Lady Toppers a 7-5 lead. Western Kentucky would extend its advantage to 11-6 forcing UTEP to a timeout.
Regrouped the Miners went on a 5-2 rally to get only two points behind the Lady Toppers. Unfortunately, despite a great offensive effort with only two errors and a 51 percent conversion rate, UTEP could not break WKU’s advantage. The Lady Toppers would claim the set, 25-19.
UTEP developed an offensive rhythm in the second stanza, as the Miners found 31 attempts along the net. Yet, a 11-3 opening lead for the Lady Toppers would allow Western Kentucky to maintain its advantage, take the second set to WKU, 25-14.
The third set proved to be the decisive frame in the match. The squads tied the set nine times with seven lead changes before the Lady Toppers went on a 14-2 rally. WKU would uphold its advantage cruising to a 25-16 set win.
The Miners will return to the court on Oct. 26th as they travel to West Virginia to face off against Marshall.
