HUNTSVILLE, Texas – UTEP Volleyball defeated the Sam Houston Bearkats, 3-1 (26-28, 25-21, 25-17, 25-18) in the first meeting in program history between the sides Friday evening at Johnson Coliseum. 

The Miners improve to 14-6 overall and 6-3 in Conference USA play while Sam Houston drops to 7-15 (1-8 CUSA). 

Both Marian Ovalle (15) and Kaya Weaver (12) matched their career-highs in kills to lead the Miners. Kalia Kohler (27) and Hande Yetis (22) combined for 88 percent of the teams' assists. Weaver also dealt four aces while stuffing six blocks for the defense to record 19.5 points. Alyssa Sianez posted 20 digs and Torrance Lovesee followed with 12.

UTEP's all-around performance held the statistical advantage in kills (58-50), hitting percentage (.298 - .203), aces (10-4) and total blocks (11-7).   

SET ONE | Both teams went back-and-forth in the opening set taking turns with the lead. UTEP went up 10-8 after three kills by Marian Ovalle and Danika Washington with a Kaya Weaver ace thrown in the mix. The Miners led 15-13 heading into the media timeout. The Bearkats forced a UTEP timeout after knotting the set at 18-all and went up 19-18. UTEP and Sam Houston went 1-for-1 for 11 serves before the Bearkats won the set in extras from a 3:0 run, 28-26. 

SET TWO | The second frame displayed another seesaw performance from both teams. The Miners gained and early 5-3 on Weaver's serve that consisted of two aces. Sam Houston took over with a 13-10 lead, but the Miners responded to tie the score at 13-13. UTEP handed in a 6:1 run forcing two SHS timeouts, 23-19. Weaver slammed down two more kills to win the set, 25-21, tying the set at one a piece. 

SET THREE | UTEP opened the third set with four unanswered points and then pulled ahead 12-5. Sam Houston took a timeout and came out of the break with a 3:0 run in an attempt to close in on the Miners, 12-8. With UTEP up by six points, 17-11, the Bearkats whipped out a 6:1 run to come within one, 18-17. The Miners closed the set on a 7:0 scoring run consisting of seven kills to win the set, 25-17, and take the 2-1 advantage in the set.  

SET FOUR | The Miners won the first two points in the final set and utilized two Sam Houston errors to sustain the lead, 5-3. The Bearkats tied the set at 5 and 7 but gave up four errors along with two aces by Madison Hill to lift the Miners, 14-8. Three straight kills by Lovesee and Weaver gave the Orange and Blue a seven-point lead, 17-10. Sam Houston pulled off a 6:0 rally to cut the deficit to 17-16. UTEP gave up two points to SHS and cashed in two last kills by Ovalle and Washington to win the match, 25-18. 

UP NEXT  
UTEP will wrap up its series against Sam Houston on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m. MT. 
 

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