EL PASO – UTEP Volleyball (8-5, 0-2 Conference USA) will host a pair of matches against Jacksonville State, Sep. 28 & 30, in Memorial Gym. Thursday's match is set for a 6 p.m. first serve, while Saturday's contest is slated for a matinee beginning at noon.
"We're looking forward to playing in front of our home crowd again," head coach Ben Wallis said. "It's been a month since we've played at home so we're just looking forward to feeling that excitement from our Memorial Maniacs."
TICKETS
For the matches in Memorial Gym, tickets start at $8 and can be purchased through the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or in person at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building, UTEP campus) Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Season tickets are also still on sale. Group tickets are also available for $5 (minimum of 10 tickets).
SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sep. 28
Match 14 vs. Jax State – 6 pm | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Promo: Alzheimer's Awarness
Saturday, Sep. 30
Match 15 vs. Jax State – 12pm | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Promo: Club Day
^All Times Mountain
The Miners will be hosting a post-game clinic for 6th grade and below on Saturday, Sep. 30. For those interested in the clinic register here. "On Saturday after our match, we'll have a kid's clinic to teach them how to pass, hit, dig, and set. Anyone 6th grade and under can go out on the floor to learn some volleyball and have some fun learning from and playing with the Miners," Wallis said.
HITTING WITH CONSISTENCY
UTEP is hitting .253 paced by seven Miners who are killing it at or above the mark. Kaya Weaver (.450) leads the team among players with at least 60 kills. The UTEP offense sits 51st 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 (57) leads the charge among players with at least 30 blocks. Nationally, UTEP is 38th in total blocks (125.0) and 53rd in blocks per set (2.45).
BALANCED ATTACK
UTEP showed a balanced attack in the versus WKU with two Miners blasting home at least 2.0 kills per set. Torrance Lovesee (17 kills, 2.43/set) led the charge with Sara Pustahija (8 kills, 2.67/set) getting after it as well.
IN THE CUSA SPOTLIGHT
UTEP's Danika Washington and Kalia Kohler earned the league's third Player of the Week honors.
- 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.
- 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 four categories:
2. Team Total Blocks (125.0, 38th NCAA)
2. Blocks per Set (2.45, 53rd NCAA)
3. Hitting Pct. (0.253, 51st NCAA)
3. Match W-L Pct. (0.615, 113th NCAA)
UTEP has four players ranked in the top 10 in three categories in the conference:
* NCAA Top 100
THE OPPONENT
Jax State
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Jax State is entering the weekend at 4-8 overall and 2-0 in CUSA. The team is ranked third in the league in two team statistics – digs per set (14.08) and team attacks per set (34.67).
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The Gamecocks are hitting .209 as a team, and three players have at least 80 kills. Maddie Stayer leads the way with 93 kills (2.38/set). Ellie Garrett directs the offense with 357 assists (9.92/set). Gracie Danziger paces the squad with 3.00 digs per set (117 digs).
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Ellie Garrett ranks 60th in the nation in assists per set (9.92).
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Entering his first season with Jax State, Head Coach Derek Schroeder sits at a 250-179 career record, as the eighth head coach of the JSU Volleyball program. Schroeder has won five conference titles in previous stops at Samford and Mercer.
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Thursday's matchup will be the first meeting between UTEP and Jax State.
"We've only played once at home so to be able to get out and jump on some people tomorrow," Wallis said. "I think we'll see a lot of nerves early on because it's been a long time since we've played at home, and we've got a few players in some different roles now which we're going to need to see some progress moving forward. But we're excited to get back home and defend Memorial and get back on the winning track."
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.
