EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP volleyball team (11-2) opens Conference USA competition against (RV) Rice (7-5, 2-0 C-USA) in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 2 at 12 p.m. MT and Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. MT.
 
The match-up will be streamed on CUSA.tv, with live stats available.
 
"They were picked number one on the Western side for a reason and we were picked number two on the Western side for a reason," head coach Ben Wallis said. "Physically we're a lot better this year than we were last year. Genny (Volpe) is bringing back a lot of really experienced, physical, and talented players. We've got our work cut out for us but I feel good about what we're doing.
 
"I feel good about where the team's brain is at right now competitively," Wallis said. "They're hungry to prove their worth in this conference. We got off to a great start this year. It may be nonconference, but none of that stuff matters anymore once the ball gets served Saturday afternoon."
 
History
The Miners have won 10 conference openers. The last win being in 2017 against Rice. While UTEP was in the Western Athletic Conference, it won three consecutive conference openers against San Diego State (1998) and Tulsa (1999 & 2000).
 
Hitting With Consistency
UTEP has hit better than .250 eight times total on the season, including four matches at .333 or above. The opposition has only topped .250 twice in 12 contests on the campaign. Seven Miners are swinging at better than .250 on the year. Vittoria Price (.407) leads the team among players with at least 10 kills. Kenidy Howard (.404) is also above .400.
 
Blocking Time
The Miners registered a season-high 13 blocks in the 3-1 win at UTRGV on Sept. 23. UTEP has posted at least 10 blocks in four of the past five matches. It now has a total of seven such performances on the season. Alianza Darley (51), Price (35), Ema Uskokovic (34), Howard (33) and Yasso Amin (31) each have tallied at least 30 total blocks to lead the charge.
 
Quick Hitters

• UTEP is 2-0 on the season when coming off a loss, winning both ensuing matches by a score of 3-1
• The Miners are undefeated (3-0) on the year when going to five sets
• UTEP is more than halfway (11-2) to 20 victories on the campaign, something it hasn't achieved since 2005 (21-10)
• The Miners are 4-2 when losing the first set

 
Miner Rankings
In Conference USA, UTEP is ranked in the top three in six different categories: first in aces per set (2.02, 13^th NCAA) and team service aces (101, 14^th NCAA), second in hitting percentage (0.263, 32^nd NCAA), match W-L percentage (0.846, 25^th NCAA) and opponent hitting percentage (0.182, 93^rd NCAA) and third in kills per set (13.76, 32^nd NCAA). UTEP has five players ranked in the top 10 in six different categories in the conference: Kristen Fritsche is fifth in services aces (18), Alyssa Sianez is seventh in total digs (201), Darley and Price are both ninth in blocks per set (1.00), Darley is ninth in total blocks (50) and Serena Patterson in 10^th in total kills (161) and in points (186.5).
 
Scouting (RV) Rice
(RV) Rice is 7-5 (2-0 C-USA) on the year, has won seven of its last nine matches and is still receiving votes in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll. The Owls have faced four top-11 teams this season, including No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Pittsburgh. Nationally, the Owls are currently ranked 23d in kills per set (13.93) and 24^th in assists per set (12.78). The program is led offensively by two players with triple-digit kills: Nicole Lennon (173) and Anota Adekunle (100). Nationally, Lennon is ranked second in career kills (1,913) and is approaching the Rice school record for career kills (1,969). Junior setter Carly Graham is rated first on the team in assists (424). Graham is currently second in the conference in assists per set (10.60), which places her 36^th nationally. Nia McCardell sets the tone for the team defensively with 160 digs (3.90 digs/set). Adekunle is the top scorer in blocks (33.0).
 
The Series vs. (RV) Rice
UTEP is 10-41 against (RV) Rice, first meeting back in 1983. Under Coach Wallis, the Miners are 1-4 against the Owls.
 
"We're looking forward to the competition," Wallis said. "We've got two chances to get there in Houston and see what this team is all about moving into C-USA play."  
Help support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club. Visit givingto.utep.edu/mac today!
 
For complete coverage of UTEP Women's Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepvb (Instagram) @UTEPVolleyball (Facebook) and @UTEP_VB (Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.