EL PASO – UTEP Volleyball (24-4, 14-2 Conference USA) wraps up the regular season at home with a two-match series against Conference USA newcomer Kennesaw State on Nov. 15-16 at Club Memorial. The Miners will celebrate Military Appreciation Night on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by Senior Day festivities on Saturday at 12 p.m. as they honor their graduating players.
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. Nov. 15
Sat. Nov. 16 |
6pm
12pm |
UTEP vs. Kennesaw State
UTEP vs. Kennesaw State |
ESPN+
ESPN+ |
Live Stats
Live Stats |
Military Appreciation
Senior Day |
^All Times Mountain Standard
HITTING WITH CONSISTENCY
UTEP's offense is firing on all cylinders, hitting .285 overall, with two Miners exceeding or matching that mark. Kaya Weaver leads the team, boasting a .431 hitting percentage among players with at least 160 kills. The Miners' efficiency ranks 13th nationally. UTEP reached a season-high .442 in a 3-0 sweep against Middle Tennessee on Oct. 31 and has hit over .300 in 15 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 15 matches this season, with Kaya Weaver leading the team with 134.0 blocks. Nationally, UTEP ranks 9th in team total blocks (269.5) and 11th in blocks/set (2.81) while leading CUSA.
BALANCED ATTACK
UTEP showed a balanced attack against Liberty, with four Miners blasting home at least 2.0 kills per set. Among players with at least 15 kills over the weekend, Ema Uskokovic (29 kills, 4.14/set) led the way with Torrance Lovesee, Danika Washington, and Kaya Weaver getting after it as well.
IN THE CUSA SPOTLIGHT
Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler – Co-Setters of the Week (Nov. 11, Week 11)
- Gantt and Kohler were pivotal in UTEP's historic weekend, helping the Miners set a program record for most conference wins in a season with two victories over Liberty. The duo combined for 96 assists (13.71 a/s) at a .509 setting percentage. Their efforts guided UTEP to an impressive .348 team hitting percentage.
Landry Braziel – Freshman of the Week (Nov. 4, Week 10)
- Braziel led the Miners to two wins over Middle Tennessee with 18 kills (2.57 per set) on a .484 hitting percentage and excelled on Halloween night with 10 kills on 14 error-free swings. She also added six digs, two blocks, and 19 points.
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 55 in 11 categories:
2. Aces/Set (2.33)*
4. Team Service Aces (224)*
9. Team Total Blocks (269.5)*
11. Blocks/Set (2.81)*
12. Match W-L % (0.857)*
13. Hitting Percentage (0.285)
19. Opponent Hitting Percentage (0.161)*
26. Kills/Set (13.80)*
41. Team Kills (1325)
44. Assists/Set (12.61)*
54. Team Assists (1211)
*CUSA Leader
UTEP has five players ranked in the Top 100 in NCAA.
| STATISTICS |
PLAYER |
NCAA/CUSA RANK |
VALUE |
Aces/Set
Blocks/Set
Hitting %
Points
Service Aces
Total Blocks |
Lovesee
Kohler
Weaver
Weaver
Washington
Uskokovic
Lovesee
Kohler
Uskokovic
Weaver |
57/2
72/3
19/2
9/1
34/2
100/6
48/2
66/3
75/6
10/3 |
0.44 a/s
0.42 a/s
1.41 bk/s
0.427 H%
0.385 H%
383.0 PTS
41 SA
39 SA
38 SA
134 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 on October 9. 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
UTEP's 24-4 overall record is the best in program history through 28 games. This marks only the seventh time in school history the Miners have reached at least 24 wins in a season, with previous milestones achieved in 2023 (25-10), 2021 (24-8), 1988 (26-14), 1984 (28-14), 1983 (25-25), and 1982 (30-18).
WIN STREAK RECORD
After the sweep at Jax State (Oct. 18-19), UTEP 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
Before dropping two to WKU, the Miners won 20 straight regular season matches at Club Memorial. 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.
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 eight of the 11 weeks of the season. UTEP secured four setters (co) of the week (Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler, Sept. 23, Sept. 16, Sept. 9, Nov. 11), 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 two freshman of the week (Landry Braziel, Oct. 14, Nov. 4). The four 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 14 overall weekly awards (including freshman of the week) already break the prior school standard (10; 2023, 2022).
CLEAN SWEEP CREW
Of UTEP's 24 wins, 17 have been in three sets. The 17 sweeps are already the most in a single season since the Orange and Blue registered 18 such victories in 1988 (26-15).
ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON
On October 19 versus Jax State, UTEP 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' arrival in the Sun City, UTEP had registered just one 20-win campaign (21-10, 2005) in the previous 29 seasons.
DOUBLE-DIGIT CONFERENCE WINS
On October 19 versus Jax State, the Miners 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.
CONFERENCE WIN #14
The Liberty series marked a historic moment for UTEP Volleyball. In game one against the Flames, the Miners matched the program record for most conference wins in a season (13). The next day, UTEP defeated Liberty once again, clinching its 14th conference victory to set a new program record.
THE OPPONENT
Kennesaw State
- KSU enters the weekend at 13-14 (10-6 CUSA).
- Last Two: Kennesaw State split its previous series with Middle Tennessee. On Friday, big performances from Manu Johnsen, Olivia Burrage, and Caroline Chastang led the Owls to a 3-1 victory extending their win streak to four games and securing third place in the conference at 10-5. However, the Owls' momentum was halted on Saturday, as they fell 3-1 to the Blue Raiders, dropping to 10-6 in CUSA and 13-14 overall.
- Team Ranks: Kennesaw State has been strong at the service line this season, ranking 40th nationally in team service aces (4th in Conference USA) and 65th in aces per set (2nd in CUSA).
- Player Ranks: Individually, Manu Johnsen has been a standout performer for the Owls, ranking in the top 100 nationally in six categories. She is 34th in total points (4th in CUSA), 36th in total kills (3rd in CUSA), and 60th in total attempts (4th in CUSA). Johnsen also ranks 70th in points per set (2nd in CUSA), 74th in kills per set (3rd in CUSA), and 84th in service aces (7th in CUSA).
- Series: This weekend will be the first meeting between the Miners and the Owls.
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