EL PASO – UTEP volleyball is gearing up for an epic showdown against Wichita State in the NIVC Championship match scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, at 7 p.m. MT inside Memorial Gym, marking a historic moment as UTEP steps onto the championship stage for the first time.
SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Dec. 12 | Championship
Match 35 vs. Wichita State – 7pm MT | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats
^ Door open at 5:30pm MT
HITTING WITH CONSISTENCY
UTEP is hitting .270 paced by seven Miners who are killing it at or above the mark. Danika Washington (.392) leads the team among players with at least 200 kills. The UTEP offense sits 20th in the nation in hitting percentage.
BLOCK PARTY
The Miners registered a season-high 18 blocks in the 3-1 win against San Francisco on Aug. 31. UTEP posted at least 10 blocks on 24 occasions – most recently stuffing 10 blocks against South Florida in the NIVC semifinals. Kaya Weaver (166.0) leads the charge among players with at least 85 blocks. Nationally, UTEP is second in team total blocks (349.5) and 12th in blocks per set (2.73).
BALANCED ATTACK
UTEP showed a balanced attack in the NIVC semifinals against south Florida with four Miners blasting home at least 2.0 kills per set. Alianza Darley (12 kills, 4.00/set) led the charge with Torrance Lovesee, Danika Washington, and Kaya Weaver getting after it as well.
IN THE CUSA SPOTLIGHT
UTEP's Kaya Weaver landed on the 2023 All-Conference First Team, with Alianza Darley and Danika Washington securing spots on the Second Team and Kalia Kohler being selected for the All-Freshman Team.
- Kaya Weaver: two-time Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 9; Nov. 13)
- Alianza Darley: three-time All-CUSA (2021, 2022, 2023)
- Danika Washington: two-time Defensive Player of the Week (Sep. 11; Oct. 23)
- Kalia Kohler: four-time Freshman of the Week (Sep. 11; Oct. 2, 23, Nov. 13); Co-Setter of the Week (Oct. 9)
OFF THE COURT
UTEP's Alianza Darley, Alyssa Sianez, and Torrance Lovesee were selected to the 11-member 2023 Conference USA Volleyball All-Academic Team.
MINER RANKINGS
Nationally, UTEP is ranked in the top 100 in nine categories:
2. Team Service Aces (252)*
2. Team Total Blocks (349.5)*
10. Aces per Set (1.97)*
12. Blocks per Set (2.73)*
20. Hitting Percentage (0.274)
32. Team Assists (1,512)*
32. Team Kills (1623)*
39. Match W-L Pctg (0.735)
92. Opp Hitting Pctg (0.191)
* Conference USA leader
UTEP has five players ranked in the top 10 in five categories in the conference:
THE OPPONENT
Wichita State
- WSU is entering the weekend at 25-8
- The Shockers roll into the championship following a three-set win over Montana State on Saturday afternoon at Charles Koch Arena. Wichita State dropped just one set in four NIVC home wins.
- The team is ranked in the top 20 nationally in two team statistics – No. 16 in team kills (1683) and No. 20 in Team Digs (1964)
- The Shockers are hitting .254 as a team, and three players have at least 300 kills. Natalie Foster easily leads the way with 349 kills. Izzi Strand directs the offense with a combined 1,311 assists. Gabi
- Maas paces the squad with 484 digs.
- Four players rank in the top 100 nationally.
- Izzi Strand: 6th – total assists (1311), 28th – assists per set (10.49)
- Natalie Foster: 12th – hitting percentage (0.414), 79th – total blocks (125)
- Morgan Strout: 84th – hitting percentage (0.349)
- Gabi Maas: 72nd – total digs (484)
- In his 24th season on the sideline, head coach Chris Lamb accomplished his 10th 25-win season with the Shockers. Lamb is WSU's all-time wins leader with a 507-236 record.
- The Shockers are 6-2 against UTEP.
Give a gift to UTEP Women's Volleyball by donating to the Point Miners Club.
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