EL PASO, Texas – Last season, UTEP took the opening sets in its two matches against UTSA by a combined 12 points. The Roadrunners went on to win the next three sets in both matches for their thirteenth and fourteenth consecutive victories over the Miners.
"Our players know that it's important to not only go out there and win the match on Monday, but to continue to climb up the ranks in the conference," head coach
Ben Wallis said.
UTEP volleyball (2-3, 1-1 C-USA) hosts UTSA (3-5, 1-1 C-USA) in Memorial Gym on Feb. 22 and 23, Monday at 12 p.m. and Tuesday at 11 a.m., in hopes of notching the first victory over its interstate rival in over a decade.
The last time the Miners came out on top over the Roadrunners was Sept. 10, 2010.
"Last year was my first year in the conference and very quickly this became a rivalry," Wallis said. "I'm not sure why other than the fact that our team felt they were better than them last year and we did not prove that."
In the second of the two matches last season, UTEP had a set point in order in the fourth set, up 24-23. But the Roadrunners ran away with the next three points to seal the match victory.
UTSA has finished in the top-six of the C-USA standings since its arrival to the conference in 2013 and took the conference title in its introductory year with a 24-8 (13-1 C-USA) record. The Roadrunners placed second the next two seasons.
"They have a recipe that works for them which is serve it tough, be a good defensive team and don't whack the ball out of bounds," Wallis said.
This season's C-USA Preseason Poll voted UTSA to place third in the West Division – one spot above UTEP.
SENIOR DAY
UTEP volleyball will be celebrating senior outside hitter
Cheyenne Jones on her senior day immediately following Monday's match.
LAST TIME OUT (UTEP)
The Miners split their conference opener against UAB last weekend in Birmingham, Ala., behind the performance of C-USA Offensive Player of the Week
Cheyenne Jones who put together 26 kills and seven blocks over eight sets.
Wallis praised the improvement of his left side hitters (
Serena Patterson,
Ava Palm and
Paulina Perez Rosas) from match one to match two, who he said, "really helped us
win today." Palm and Patterson combined for 24 kills in UTEP's straight-set victory.
LAST TIME OUT (UTSA)
The Roadrunners also split their conference opener with North Texas in San Antonio, Texas. In UTSA's victory in match one, Hunter Coppola and Amanda Ifeanyi racked up double-figure kills to win in four sets.
For complete coverage of UTEP Women's Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepvb (Instagram) and @UTEP_VB (Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
