Nov. 3, 2016
Final Stats
EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP volleyball team flew past the UT-Rio Grande Vaqueros Thursday night in Memorial Gym, 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-12, 25-14).
Freshmen Macey Austin and Briana Arellano led the Miners on offense with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Senior Lindsey Larson notched 32 assists, 12 digs, seven kills and a block for her 16th double-double on the season. Niki Cebak topped the squad with 20 digs while Sarah Villa tallied 15 digs.
UTEP stormed out to a 7-1 run before UTRGV called its first timeout on the court. The Vaqueros came back with a 4-1 run to force UTEP to call a timeout. UTRGV picked up momentum after the break and eventually took a 17-14 lead before head coach Holly Watts called a second timeout. UTEP was unable to come back from the deficit and the Vaqueros claimed the first point of the match with a 25-21 victory in the opening stanza.
The Miners once again came out to take 4-1 run in the second set but UTRGV remained close behind. UTRGV called a timeout later on in the set as UTEP took a five point lead, 16-11. The Vaqueros scored five more points in the second set but the Orange and Blue ultimately came out on top with a 25-17 set victory.
Arellano hammered the first kill of the third set and the Miners paced the Vaqueros, 9-4, before a timeout was called. UTEP's rhythm continued through the set and ultimately took the frame, 25-12.
The Miners' rhythm continued through the rest of the match as they dominated in the fourth set to take a 25-14 set win and a 3-1 win in the match.
UTEP will return to its conference schedule to face Florida International in Memorial Gym. The first serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (MT).
