FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – The UTEP Beach Volleyball team was swept by three-seed Tulane on Friday morning to wrap up the program's premier season at the 2023 Conference USA Beach Volleyball Championships at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park.  

"It was very exciting to go to the conference tournament for the first time," Associate Head Coach Daniel Foo said. "All the girls were playing their best game this week. 

"We came out strong against UAB on Thursday, playing them tough with opportunities to win in several positions. Mia Bella (Ruiz) and Marian (Ovalle) played a great match taking a set off of UAB's No. 5 pair. Friday morning the team played very well but fell short against Tulane. Sara (Pustahija) and Krista (Paegle) took a set from Tulane's 1's." 

Tulane was quick to roll past the Miners as the Green Wave posted four consecutive two-set wins, clinching the win with a 21-14, 21-15 result in the 3's. UTEP's Krista Paegle and Sara Pustahija recorded a team-high of 49 combined points in a three-set setback in the first flight. 

   
Results (Order of Finish: 4, 5, 3*, 2, 1)    

P1 Mollie Ebertin/Kendall Peters (TU) def. Paegle/Pustahija (UTEP) 21-13, 21-23, 15-13 

P2 Sara Hall/Maddie Speicher (TU) def. Ema Uskokovic/Katie Martin (UTEP) 26-24, 21-16 

P3 Samantha Mehlman/Emily Heintzelman (TU) def. Savannah Marenco/Paulina Acuna (UTEP) 21-14, 21-15 

P4 Ashton Mares/Abby Jackson (TU) def. Madison Hill/Serena Patterson (UTEP) 21-7, 21-17 

P5 Laura Tourruella/Savka Popovic (TU) def. Mia Bella Ruiz/Marian Ovalle (UTEP) 21-14, 21-12 

 
"Overall, the team played so well, and I am very proud of their growth this season," Foo said. "Only positive things for the future of UTEP Beach Volleyball." 

For complete coverage of UTEP Beach Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepbeachvb (Instagram) and @UTEPBeachVB (Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.