EL PASO – UTEP Volleyball (8-3) opens Conference USA play against nationally-ranked Western Kentucky, Sep. 22-23, in Diddle Arena. The first serve is slated for 5 p.m. MT on Friday and 11 a.m. MT on Saturday.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Sep. 22
Match 12 vs. No. 25 WKU – 5 pm | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Radio: Varsity Network
Saturday, Sep. 23
Match 13 vs. No. 25 WKU – 11 am | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Radio: Varsity Network
^All Times Mountain
"The expectations are higher- that's different, but we welcome it," head coach Ben Wallis said. "I'm looking forward to seeing if this team and this program is good enough, right now, in September, to go beat a top 25 team. We're very close but none of that matters until the lights come on and the first whistle blows then we'll know a lot more about how our team is going to respond."
HITTING WITH CONSISTENCY
UTEP is hitting .266 paced by seven Miners who are killing it at or above the mark. Kaya Weaver (.477) leads the team among players with at least 50 kills. The UTEP offense sits at 37th 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 seven occasions – most recently against Clemson with 11 blocks. Kaya Weaver (49) leads the charge among players with at least 25 blocks. Nationally, UTEP is 37th in total blocks (110.0) and 39th in blocks per set (2.50).
BALANCED ATTACK
UTEP showed a balanced attack in the Tulane Invitational last weekend, with four Miners blasting home at least 2.0 kills per set. Torrance Lovesee (30 kills, 2.73/set) led the charge with Alianza Darley (28 kills, 2.55/set) and Sakira LaCour (23 kills, 2.09/set) getting after it as well.
IN THE CUSA SPOTLIGHT
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Washington was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week after picking up 17 blocks at the Bobcat Invitational, averaging 1.42 blocks per set. Washington totaled 35.5 points that included 27 kills with a .489 hitting percentage and was named to the Bobcat Invitational All-Tournament Team.
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Kohler averaged 5.54 assists per set through 13 sets leading the Miners to wins over Ohio and William & Mary. In a 6-2 system, she registered 20 or more assists in each match while she helped the UTEP defense to a .241 hitting clip. Kohler also racked up four aces, two kills and 20 digs on the weekend.
MINER RANKINGS
In Conference USA, UTEP is ranked in the top three in five categories:
1. Total Blocks (110.0, 37th NCAA)
1. Blocks per Set (2.50, 39th NCAA)
T1. Match W-L Pct. (0.727, 63rd NCAA)
2. Opp Hitting Pct. (0.188, 111th NCAA)
3. Hitting Pct. (0.266, 37th NCAA)
UTEP has four players ranked in the top 10 in three categories in the conference:
|
Statistic
|
Player
|
CUSA Rank
|
Value
|
|
Blocks per Set
|
|
2
3
7
|
1.20*
1.18*
0.98
|
|
Total Blocks
|
|
3
7
8
|
49*
41
40
|
|
Total Digs
|
|
5
|
147
|
* NCAA Top 100
THE OPPONENT
Western Kentucky
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No. 25 WKU is entering the weekend at 10-4. The team is ranked top-10 nationally in two team statistics – team assists (No. 4, 644) and team kills (No. 7, 678).
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The Hilltoppers are hitting .281 as a team, and two players have at least 100 kills. CUSA Preaseason Player of the Year and two-time Offensive Player of the Week, Paige Briggs, easily leads the way with 188 kills (4.18/set). Callie Bauer directs the offense with 523 assists (10.67/set). Kaylee Cox paces the Tops with 2.86 digs per set (140 digs).
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Paige Briggs leads CUSA in kills (188), kills per set (4.18), points (222.5) and points per set (4.94). Callie Bauer is ranked No. 2 in the nation with 523 assists.
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As a team, the Tops ranks first in CUSA for kills (678), kills per set (13.84), assists (644), and assists per set (13.14).
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In his 29th season, Head Coach Travis Hudson sits at a 722-222 career record, as the fourth head coach of the WKU Volleyball program.
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The Hilltoppers are undefeated against the Miners, 12-0.
"The expectations are different when you have people chasing you," Wallis said. "We have a target on our back now. UTEP made national news for college volleyball when it comes to this matchup against WKU. That's awesome and a really cool thing that this team has earned, but it puts a bigger target on our back. We got weapons and talent and we're excited to see how function moving forward."
Give a gift to UTEP Women's Volleyball by donating to the Point Miners Club.
For complete coverage of UTEP Women's Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepvb (Instagram) @UTEPVolleyball (Facebook) and @UTEPVB (Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
