EL PASO – UTEP Volleyball powered through a hard-fought 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-23, 25-23) win over Middle Tennessee on Friday night at Club Memorial, clinching a series sweep. 

UTEP improves to 22-4 (12-2 Conference USA) while MTSU drops to 11-15 (7-7 CUSA).     

MATCH SUMMARY          
After winning the first set 25-20, UTEP dropped the second as MTSU capitalized on a mid-set run, tying the match 1-1. In the third set, the Miners took control with a balanced attack and steady serving, edging out MTSU 25-23. Despite a 5-0 deficit at the start of the fourth set, UTEP regrouped to capture the fourth set 25-23, securing the match in a confident 3-1 performance. 

LEADERBOARD             

• Ema Uskokovic led the offense with 12 kills. 
• Kalia Kohler commanded the play with 23 assists, closely followed by Alexis Massey with 21, helping to keep the offense in rhythm.  
• Kaya Weaver made a strong impact from the service line, landing 3 aces.  
• On defense, Torrance Lovesee and Uskokovic anchored with 8 digs each 
• Uskokovic and Danika Washington were dominant at the net, each recording 6 blocks, with Uskokovic adding 3 solo blocks.

SPLIT BOX             
UTEP held the statistical advantage in service aces (8-4), and blocks (12-9), but were outhit in kills (47-50).

SET-BY-SET          
ONE | UTEP struck first with an ace by Kalia Kohler but quickly found themselves trailing 4-1. The Miners rallied back with key kills from Landry Braziel, Kaya Weaver, and Ema Uskokovic. UTEP continued to pull ahead with a balanced attack, including multiple kills from Torrance Lovesee and Braziel. After a media timeout at 15-12, UTEP capitalized on MTSU errors and strong defense, with Uskokovic and Danika Washington combining for crucial blocks. The Miners closed out the set 25-20 after a series of MTSU errors, taking a 1-0 lead. 

TWO | The Miners started strong with a kill from Weaver, a block by Uskokovic and Weaver, and an ace from Lovesee, building a 4-1 lead. MTSU fought back, pulling ahead 10-6, prompting a UTEP timeout. Uskokovic's kills and a well-timed MTSU error helped close the gap to 10-9. However, MTSU maintained control, extending its lead late in the set. Despite an ace from Uskokovic and a few key plays from Weaver and Washington, MTSU took the set 25-18, tying the match at 1-1.

THREE | MTSU gained an early lead, but UTEP responded with kills from Lovesee and Washington, eventually knotting the score at 7-7 after an ace from Lovesee. UTEP's defense then took charge, with Pustahija and Washington contributing blocks that kept them in a close battle. Uskokovic and Lovesee's powerful kills helped UTEP regain the lead, while an error-laden MTSU side struggled to keep pace. With a final block by Weaver and Uskokovic, UTEP edged out MTSU, winning the set 25-23 and taking a 2-1 match lead. 

FOUR | MTSU surged ahead with a 5-0 start, but UTEP regrouped with kills from Lovesee and Braziel. A critical block by Braziel and Washington shifted momentum, allowing the Miners to close the gap. Weaver's timely aces pushed UTEP ahead 16-15, and kills by Braziel and Pustahija helped extend the lead. Despite MTSU's efforts to rally, UTEP maintained control. Braziel's kill sealed the set at 25-23, securing a 3-1 victory for UTEP over MTSU. 

"We did a decent job of stopping MTSU, but honestly, we almost found a way to lose tonight despite pulling it out when we needed to," said Head Coach Ben Wallis. "MTSU played harder, and we didn't push until it was absolutely necessary late in the match. I'm proud of our setters for handling the pressure and setting us up for good swings when we needed them. Kaya's service runs were key for us tonight, and I'm especially proud of her. It was an ugly win, but sometimes good teams win ugly, and this is a special group that finds ways to win."

UP NEXT              
The Miners travel to Lynchburg, Virginia, to take on Liberty on November 8-9. 

 

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