2024 Season in Review

• Overall Record: 27-6 
• CUSA Record: 16-2 (Program Record) 
• NCAA RPI: 38 (Program Best) 
• NCAA Tournament: At-Large Bid (First in Program History) 
• Home Attendance Record: 2,315 vs. NM State 

In a season defined by milestones, resilience, and national recognition, UTEP Volleyball etched its name into the record books in 2024 with a campaign that marked the most successful in program history. Under the direction of head coach Ben Wallis, the Miners posted a 27-6 overall record, claimed a program-best 16 Conference USA wins (16-2), and earned their first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

UTEP's 27-6 record is the best in program history through 33 matches, and the Miners became the first NCAA Division I team in the country to reach 20 wins this season. The Miners also strung together a school-record 13-match win streak, shattering the previous single-season record of nine set in 1982 and 1996. 

A SEASON OF FIRSTS AND RECORDS 

The Miners became the first NCAA Division I team to reach 20 wins this season and closed the year with a top-40 RPI ranking (No. 38). Their efforts culminated in the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance, where they pushed No. 8 seed Oklahoma to five sets in a thrilling debut. 

UTEP also set a new benchmark for CUSA weekly awards (14) and postseason honors (8), highlighting the team's consistency and talent across the roster. 

The Miners secured their third 20-win season in the past four years, a level of success unmatched since the program's heyday in the 1980s. They also recorded double-digit league wins for the third straight season, something achieved just three times in the previous 45 years of program history. 

After going 14-1 at Memorial Gym, UTEP is now 29-4 at home since the start of the 2023 season. The Miners' 20-match regular season home win streak—snapped only by WKU—fueled electric crowds, including a record 2,315 fans for the Battle of I-10 showdown vs. NM State on October 9. That match also saw Alyssa Sianez make program history, breaking UTEP's all-time career digs record with over 1,370. 

INDIVIDUAL STANDOUTS POWER HISTORIC RUN 

Junior middle blocker Kaya Weaver anchored UTEP's dominance at the net, earning CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, AVCA Southwest All-Region First Team, and AVCA All-America Honorable Mention honors. She set a school record with a .442 hitting percentage while ranking top-30 nationally in blocks per set and total blocks. She also finished 7th nationally in hitting percentage, and top-3 in Conference USA in three statistical categories. 

Senior Ema Uskokovic made a triumphant return from injury to lead UTEP in kills (354), service aces (48), and total points (457), also earning All-CUSA First Team and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention accolades. She was joined on the All-CUSA team by setter Kalia Kohler, who guided the offense with 648 assists and led the Miners to 14 matches with a hitting percentage above .300. 

Freshman Landry Braziel earned two CUSA Freshman of the Week honors, while Danika Washington, Torrance Lovesee, and Lauren Perry all played vital roles in a deep and balanced attack. 

BY THE NUMBERS: NATIONAL IMPACT & RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCES 

UTEP made waves nationally with elite offensive and defensive metrics, culminating in several top NCAA statistical rankings and new program records. 

Team National Rankings (NCAA Division I): 

#1 – Total Service Aces (263) | Program Record 
#2 – Aces per Set (2.27) 
#8 – Hitting Percentage (.287) 
#13 – Blocks per Set (2.76) 
#15 – Match W-L Percentage (.818) 
#19 – Total Blocks (320.0) 
#25 – Opponent Hitting Percentage (.168) 

Hitting with Consistency 

UTEP's offense was a model of efficiency, hitting .288 overall with 17 matches above .300. Weaver led the way at .442, ranking among national leaders. The team hit a season-best .481 in a sweep of Kennesaw State on Nov. 15. 

Block Party 

Defensively, the Miners were among the nation's best at the net, finishing 13th in blocks per set and 19th in total blocks. UTEP posted double-digit blocks in 18 matches, highlighted by 16 blocks vs. Utah State on Sept. 1 and a record-tying 26 block assists vs. NM State on Oct. 8. 

Clean Sweep Crew 

UTEP recorded 19 sweeps, breaking the single-season program record of 18 set in 1988. 

Individual NCAA Rankings: 

Kaya Weaver #7 in Hitting Percentage (.439) #30 in Total Blocks (151) #31 in Blocks per Set (1.31)

Ema Uskokovic #48 in Aces (48) #74 in Aces per Set (0.41)

Torrance Lovesee #73 in Aces (44) #99 in Aces per Set (0.39)

Kalia Kohler #84 in Aces (43)

DOMINANT STRETCHES, BIG-TIME WINS 

The Miners opened the season by winning 10 of their first 11 matches, including sweeps over Power 4 opponent Iowa State and Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana. They swept their way to Borderland Invitational and Southwest Showdown titles and went on to win 17 of 18 matches between Sept. 5 and Oct. 19. 

UTEP also delivered landmark victories in rivalry play, sweeping NM State in El Paso for the first time since 2001 and securing a regular-season sweep over the Aggies for the first time in three years. 

CLOSING STRONG AND MAKING HISTORY 

UTEP capped its regular season with a 3-1 win over Kennesaw State on Senior Day, securing the No. 2 seed for the CUSA Championship hosted at Memorial Gym. The Miners swept Liberty in the quarterfinals before falling in a five-set semifinal thriller to NM State. 

The season reached its apex on December 1 when UTEP received its first-ever NCAA Tournament at-large selection, drawing Oklahoma in the first round. Despite a hard-fought 3-2 loss, the Miners' grit and national emergence were undeniable. 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND COMMUNITY PRIDE 

The Miners also excelled off the court placing four players — Kohler, Uskokovic, Madison Hill, and Sara Pustahija — on the CSC Academic All-District® Team. Uskokovic was also named to the CUSA All-Academic Team. 

Packed House

UTEP fans turned out in droves in 2024. The Miners set a new regular-season attendance record with 2,315 fans vs. NM State on Oct. 9, surpassing the 1,803 set in 2023. They also remain unbeaten in matches with over 2,000 fans in attendance. 

LOOKING AHEAD 

With core contributors like Weaver, Kohler, and Braziel returning, the future is bright for UTEP Volleyball. Coach Wallis, who signed a contract extension through 2029 earlier this season and secured his 100th career win in September, continues to elevate the program to national relevance. 

ACCOLADES 

American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Honorable Mention (Dec. 18)	Kaya Weaver
College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team (Dec. 17)	Kalia Kohler Madison Hill Sara Pustahija Ema Uskokovic
American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Southwest All-Region Team (Dec. 10)	Kaya Weaver (First Team) Ema Uskokovic (Honorable Mention)
All-Conference Awards (Nov. 20)	Kaya Weaver – Defensive Player of the Year, First Team Ema Uskokovic – First Team Kalia Kohler – Second Team Torrance Lovesee – Second Team Danika Washington – Second Team Landry Braziel – All-Freshman Team Lauren Perry – All-Freshman Team
CUSA All-Academic Team (Nov. 15)	Ema Uskokovic
CUSA Co-Setters of the Week (Nov. 11)	Mattie Gantt Kalia Kohler
CUSA Freshman of the Week (Nov. 4)	Landry Braziel
CUSA Freshman of the Week (Oct. 14)	Landry Braziel
All-Time Program Digs Leader (Oct. 9)	Alyssa Sianez
CUSA Players of the Week (Oct. 7)	Ema Uskokovic – Offensive POW Kaya Weaver – Defensive POW
CUSA Co-Setters of the Week (Sep. 23)	Mattie Gantt Kalia Kohler
Southwest Showdown All-Tournament Team (Sep. 22)	Mattie Gantt Kalia Kohler Ema Uskokovic (MVP) *UTEP Tournament Champions
CUSA Co-Setters of the Week (Sep. 16)	Mattie Gantt Kalia Kohler
South Dakota Classic All-Tournament Team (Sep. 15)	Ema Uskokovic Danika Washington
CUSA Players of the Week (Sep. 9)	Kaya Weaver – Offensive POW Mattie Gantt – Co-Setter Kalia Kohler – Co-Setter
Borderland Invitational All-Tournament Team (Sep. 7)	Alyssa Sianez Ema Uskokovic Kaya Weaver (MVP) *UTEP Tournament Champions
CUSA Defensive Player of the Week (Sep. 2)	Kaya Weaver
Utah Classic All-Tournament Team (Sep. 1)	Kalia Kohler Kaya Weaver
CUSA Preseason Team (Aug. 22)	Danika Washington Kaya Weaver

---

Give a gift to UTEP Women's Volleyball by donating to the Point Miners Club.                       
 
Stay up to date with UTEP Volleyball by subscribing to the team's newsletter here.         
 
For complete coverage of UTEP Women's Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepvb (Instagram) @UTEPVolleyball (Facebook) and @UTEPVB (X) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.   

---