EL PASO - The top two undefeated teams in Conference USA are set to face off as UTEP Volleyball (20-2, 10-0 CUSA) hosts WKU on October 25 and 26 at Memorial Gym. Friday's match, starting at 6 p.m., will be an "Orange Out" sponsored by Whataburger, while Saturday's noon match will celebrate UTEP Volleyball's 50th Anniversary Reunion, sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

TICKETS      
Single-game tickets ($10) 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. Group tickets are also available for $5 (minimum of 10 tickets).      

SCHEDULE  

DATE	TIME	MATCHUP	WATCH	STATS	PROMO
Fri. Oct. 25  Sat. Oct. 26	6pm  12pm	UTEP vs. WKU  UTEP vs. WKU	ESPN+  ESPN+	Live Stats  Live Stats	Orange Out  50th Anniversary Reunion

^All Times Mountain Daylight     

HITTING WITH CONSISTENCY          
UTEP's offense is firing on all cylinders, hitting .288 overall, with two Miners exceeding or matching that mark. Kaya Weaver leads the team, boasting a .451 hitting percentage among players with at least 120 kills. The Miners' efficiency ranks 13th nationally. UTEP reached a season-high .402 in a 3-0 sweep against Louisiana Tech on Oct. 12 and has hit over .300 in 12 matches this season.  

BLOCK PARTY          
UTEP's defense has been dominant at the net, registering a season-high 16 blocks in a 3-0 sweep against Utah State on Sept. 1. The Miners have reached double-digit blocks in 11 matches this season, with Kaya Weaver leading the team with 105.0 blocks. Nationally, UTEP ranks 9th in blocks per set (2.90) and leads Conference USA, also sitting 9th in total blocks (211.5), showcasing their strength as a top-tier blocking team.  

BALANCED ATTACK          
UTEP showed a balanced attack against Jax State, with three Miners blasting home at least 2.0 kills per set. Among players with at least 10 kills over the weekend, Torrance Lovesee (19 kills, 3.17k/s) led the way with Lauren Perry (15 kills, 2.50 k/s) and Ema Uskokovic (12 kills 2.0k/s) getting after it as well.     

IN THE CUSA SPOTLIGHT          
Landry Braziel – Freshman of the Week (Oct. 14, Week 7)  

• Braziel was key to UTEP's 4-0 week, including wins over New Mexico State and LA Tech. She played in three matches, starting two, and totaled 23 kills (2.88/set) with a .439 hitting percentage. Braziel shined against LA Tech with 18 kills and a .469 hitting percentage, finishing the week with 25 points (3.13/set) and four blocks.  

Ema Uskokovic – Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 7, Week 6)    

• Uskokovic led UTEP to two sweeps over Sam Houston with 24 kills, hitting .373 across six sets. She racked up 33.0 points (5.5 points per set) with five aces, 12 digs, and eight blocks, showcasing her all-around game.    

Kaya Weaver – Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 7, Week 6)    

• Weaver was dominant at the net, recording 12 blocks (2 solo) and averaging 2.00 blocks per set. She also added 19 kills with a .500 hitting percentage, totaling 26.0 points (4.33 per set) across the two wins.    

Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler – Co-Setters of the Week (Sep. 23, Week 4)    

• Gantt (65 assists) and Kohler (64 assists) combined for 129 assists (10.75 per set) to lead UTEP to a 3-0 record at the UTEP Southwest Showdown, guiding the offense to a .282 hitting percentage.    

Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler – Co-Setters of the Week (Sep. 16, Week 3)    

• Gantt (62 assists) and Kohler (64 assists) directed UTEP's offense at the South Dakota Classic, combining for 126 assists (11.45 per set) and a .262 hitting percentage in a 2-1 weekend, including a sweep over Iowa State.    

Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler – Co-Setters of the Week (Sept. 9, Week 2)    

• Gantt (50 assists) and Kohler (62 assists) led UTEP to a 3-0 weekend at the Borderland Invitational, combining for 112 assists and guiding the team to 14.10 kills per set and a .307 hitting percentage.    

Kaya Weaver – Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9, Week 2)    

• Weaver starred at the Borderland Invitational with 27 kills and a .641 hitting percentage. She added 19 blocks and 3 aces, earning tournament MVP honors and helping UTEP to a 3-0 weekend.    

Kaya Weaver – Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2, Week 1)    

• Weaver excelled at the Utah Classic, tallying 21 kills and 21 blocks. She set program records with 10 block assists and 12 total blocks against Utah State, helping UTEP to a 2-1 record.   

MINER RANKINGS          
Nationally, UTEP is ranked in the top 70 in 11 categories:          
2. Team Service Aces (179)* 
2. Aces/Set (2.45)* 
7. Match W-L Percentage (0.909)* 
9. Blocks/Set (2.90)* 
9. Opponent Hitting Percentage (0.143)* 
9. Team Total Blocks (211.5) 
13. Hitting Percentage (0.288) 
24. Kills/Set (13.70)* 
45. Assists/Set (12.51)* 
52. Team Kills (1,000) 
67. Team Assists (913)  
*CUSA Leader         

UTEP has two players ranked in the Top 35 in NCAA while leading the conference.     

STATISTICS	PLAYER	NCAA/CUSA RANK	VALUE
Aces/Set  Blocks/Set  Hitting %  Service Aces  Total Blocks	Kohler  Lovesee  Uskokovic  Weaver  Weaver  Kohler  Lovesee  Uskokovic  Weaver	35/1  51/2  83/3  11/1  5/1  34/2  41/3  54/5  8/2	0.48 sa/s  0.46 sa/s  0.42 sa/s  1.46 bk/s  0.451 H%  33 SA  32 SA  31 SA  105.0 TB

IF YOU AIN'T FIRST, YOU'RE LAST 
On October 19, UTEP Volleyball dominated Jax State via sweep and with this impressive win, UTEP became the first Division 1 team in the NCAA to reach 20 victories this season.

PACKED HOUSE 
UTEP Volleyball has seen a surge in fan support over the past two seasons, with record-breaking attendance figures highlighting the team's growing popularity. In 2023, the Miners set a program record for regular-season attendance, drawing 1,803 fans for a match against Liberty. This season, they shattered that mark three times, most recently packing 2,315 fans into Memorial Gym for an electric showdown against NM State. While the overall program attendance record stands at 3,271, set during last season's sellout NIVC Championship run, which included three consecutive sellout matches in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final game, the Miners are eager to continue building on this momentum.

MAKING HISTORY   
On October 9, during UTEP's 3-1 win over NM State, Alyssa Sianez made history by breaking the all-time program record for career digs. With her outstanding performance, she surpassed the previous record of 1,369 digs, which had been held by Sarah Villa (2013-16) for eight years. Sianez's achievement marks a significant milestone in the program's history and solidifies her legacy as one of its all-time greats.   

MINING NEW HEIGHTS  
The Miners have stormed out to an 20-2 start this season, which is the best record through 22 matches in program history. UTEP's previous highwater mark at this juncture of the campaign was 16-4 (1985). Three other times (2021, 2011 and 1996) the Miners were 15-5 with 20 matches in the books. That puts head coach Ben Wallis (2024, 2021) alongside the legendary Norm Brandl (1996, 1985) as the lone coaches in school history to have multiple starts of at least 15-5.  

UNBEATEN IN CUSA  
UTEP is 10-0 in Conference USA, putting it tied for first with WKU (10-0). The 10-0 start to league play is the best in program history for conference action. The 1996 Miners got off out of the gates at 6-0 in the WAC before dropping the next three league matches.  

SCHOOL RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE WINS  
Going back to the end of last year, UTEP has won a school-record 12 straight regular-season conference contests. The Miners defeated Liberty in the final two matches of CUSA action in 2023 before winning their first 10 this year.  

ELEVEN'S HEAVEN 
After the sweep at Jax State (Oct. 118-19), UTEP has now won 13 straight contests. That breaks the prior school standard (nine; 1996, 1982) for most victories in a row during a single season. The overall program record for consecutive contests won is 14, which spanned from Nov. 6, 1987, to Sept. 17, 1988.  

HOME SWEET HOME COURT  
The Miners have won 20 straight regular-season matches at Club Memorial, including standing 10-0 thus far in 2024. UTEP was 14-1 at home in 2023, with the lone setback coming at the hands of Wichita State (L, 0-3) in the championship contest of the NIVC on Dec. 12. The Miners will have more postseason action in the Sun City in 2024, as they will play host to the Conference USA Championships from Nov. 22-24.  

HOT STREAK  
Dating to toward the end of the 2022 campaign, UTEP has claimed a school-record 15 straight conference contests at home. The stretch began on Oct. 21, 2022, with the Miners winning the final three home CUSA matches in 2022. UTEP went 8-0 in league matches in the Sun City last year. The Orange and Blue stand 4-0 in league contests at Club Memorial thus far in 2024.   

AWARD-WINNING MINERS  
The Miners have been honored by the league office with at least one of the weekly awards (including freshman of the week) in six of the first eight weeks of the season. UTEP has secured three setters (co) of the week (Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler, Sept. 23, Sept. 16, Sept. 9), a pair of offensive players of the week (Ema Uskokovic, Oct. 7, Kaya Weaver, Sept. 9), two defensive players of the week (Weaver, Oct. 7, Sept. 2) and a freshman of the week (Landry Braziel, Oct. 14).  The three co-setters of the week are already the most in a single season for the position in program history. Making it more impressive is that Gantt and Kohler reeled in the honor for three straight weeks. The 11 overall weekly awards (including freshman of the week) already break the prior school standard (10; 2023, 2022). 

CLEAN SWEEP CREW  
Of UTEP's 20 wins, 15 have been in three sets. The 15 sweeps are already the most in a single season since the Orange and Blue registered 18 such victories in 1988 (26-15).  

APPROACHING ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON  
UTEP has now secured its third 20-win season in the past four years, a level of success not seen in El Paso since the Miners recorded at least 20 victories in seven of eight years from 1982-88. Prior to head coach Ben Wallis's arrival in the Sun City, UTEP had registered just one 20-win campaign (21-10, 2005) in the previous 29 seasons. 

CHASING DOUBLE-DIGIT CONFERENCE WINS  
The Miners have now achieved their third consecutive campaign with double-digit victories in league play. Prior to this stretch, UTEP had recorded just three total seasons with at least 10 conference wins (2012, 2005, 1996) since the program's inception in 1974. 

THE OPPONENT          
Western Kentucky     

• WKU enters the series at 17-6 (10-0CUSA).       
• Last Two: WKU volleyball dominated their weekend series against LA Tech, sweeping the Bulldogs in back-to-back matches at Diddle Arena. In Friday's win, the Hilltoppers posted a .481 attack percentage, their second-highest of the season. On Saturday, WKU completed the weekend sweep, advancing to 17-6 overall and 10-0 in CUSA. The victory also extended the Hilltoppers' remarkable streak to 84 consecutive regular-season conference wins. 
• Team Ranks: WKU ranks in the top 10 nationally in four categories while leading Conference USA. The Hilltoppers are 4th in hitting percentage (.306), 5th in team kills (1,116), 6th in total blocks (217.0), and 9th in team assists (1,021).  
• Player Ranks: Individually, three Hilltoppers rank in the top 100 nationally while also leading CUSA. Callie Bauer stands out, ranking 2nd in total assists, 14th in triple-doubles, and 21st in assists per set. Izzy Van De Wiele ranks 2nd in total blocks, while Kaylee Cox is 23rd in service aces. 
• Series: WKU leads the all-time series against UTEP 15-0, with their first meeting dating back to 2014. The two teams faced off three times in 2023, including a thrilling five-set battle in the semifinals of the CUSA Championship Tournament in Lynchburg, VA, where the Hilltoppers emerged victorious. Despite their best efforts, UTEP has only managed to take six sets from WKU throughout the series. 

"We're really excited for this matchup, and I know our team is prepared," said UTEP head coach Ben Wallis. "We've had some intense practices, even filling the gym with crowd noise to replicate the stress of playing against a top team like WKU. They're the best we've faced in a while, but we match up well with them. If you look at our stats, it's almost a mirror image, but our styles are very different. Their speed to the antennas and our strength in the middle with Kaya Weaver and Danika Washington will be key. It's all about who can slow the other down, and we're ready for the challenge."

 

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