EL PASO, Texas – (RV) UTEP Volleyball (16-2, 6-0 Conference USA) returns to El Paso for a two-match CUSA series against Louisiana Tech (7-13, 0-6 CUSA), set for Oct. 17-18 at Club Memorial. This weekend marks Alumni Weekend, and Saturday's match will serve as a Pink Out in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
SCHEDULE
LAST TIME OUT
UTEP (RV) delivered a dominant performance on the road last weekend, sweeping New Mexico State in back-to-back matches to improve to 16-2 overall and 6-0 in Conference USA play.
On Friday, the Miners ended NMSU's undefeated home and conference record with a decisive 3-0 win in the 97th Battle of I-10. UTEP set the tone early with a 25-11 rout in the first set and carried momentum through a strong service game to secure the sweep.
Saturday's rematch brought more of the same. UTEP controlled the match from the start, using its blocking and serving to win 25-12, 25-21, and 26-24 in the 98th all-time meeting. The win completed a dominant rivalry sweep and solidified UTEP's place atop the CUSA standings.
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
UTEP continues to gain national attention, earning votes in the latest AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll this week. The Miners also achieved an RPI of 20, the best in program history, reflecting their strong non-conference and league performances.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
UTEP is hitting an impressive .299 as a team—7th-best in the nation and 1st in CUSA. Two Miners are hitting over .300 with at least 120 kills: Kaya Weaver (.420) and Landry Braziel (.308). Danika Washington is close behind with a .406 hitting clip on 98 kills. UTEP's season-best hitting percentage came against Oral Roberts (.459), one of nine matches where the team has hit above .300. The Miners have topped .400 twice (Oral Roberts, NMSU).
BLOCK PARTY
The Miners have tallied 150.0 total blocks, out-blocking opponents by a 43-point margin (150-107). UTEP has recorded double-digit blocks in eight matches, with a season-high 12 blocks against A&M-Corpus Christi, Oral Roberts, and Sam Houston. Washington leads the block party with 61.0 total blocks and ranks 8th in CUSA in blocks per set (1.02).
BALANCED ATTACK
UTEP's offensive balance has been a hallmark of its success. Four Miners are averaging over 2.0 kills per set with at least 120 kills:
Lovesee and Pustahija have played in all 59 sets across 18 matches, helping power UTEP's 13.61 kills per set average, which ranks 39th nationally.
CHAMPS CHECKED
Three of UTEP's nine victories this season have come against defending conference champions and 2024 NCAA Tournament teams: Sacramento State (Big Sky), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Southland), and Texas State (Sun Belt). The Miners also added a win over Arizona on Sept. 16, the reigning NIVC champion.
NEW RECORD WHO DIS?
Sophomore outside hitter Landry Braziel delivered a record-breaking performance in UTEP's sweep of Oral Roberts on Sept. 13 to close out the Sun City Classic. Braziel hit .846 with 11 kills on 13 error-free swings, marking the best hitting percentage in program history for a three-set match with at least 10 kills.
1K KILL CLUB
Torrance Lovesee became the 14th Miner to eclipse 1,000 career kills at UTEP. She reached the milestone with a 17-kill performance against Arizona and now stands at 1,085 career kills, ranking eighth in program history.
HEAVY HITTERS
UTEP's season-high team kill total is 61 against Arizona, the most in a four-set match this season. The Miners' top three-set performance came in the opener versus Sacramento State with 45 kills. Lovesee was the first Miner to reach 100 kills this season and leads with 174, followed by Weaver (144), Pustahija (134), and Braziel (126).
THROUGH 18
This marks just the second time in program history UTEP has dropped only two matches through its first 18 contests (2025 and 2024). The Miners' setbacks came against No. 24 UCLA (3-0) on September 11 and No. 10 SMU (3-1) on September 19.
HOT START IN CONFERENCE
UTEP is off to a 6-0 start in CUSA play for the second straight year and just the third time ever (2025, 2024, and 1996 in the WAC).
HISTORY AGAINST POWER CONFERENCES
UTEP has now defeated a Power Conference opponent in three consecutive seasons, matching the longest such streak in program history (1983–85). The Miners have earned notable wins over Iowa State (2024), Washington and Clemson (2023), and Northwestern and Arizona (2021). Prior to head coach Ben Wallis's arrival in 2019, UTEP had not beaten a Power 5 opponent since 2005.
IN THE CUSA SPOTLIGHT
- Weaver was named Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5 after leading the Miners to a 2-0 start in league play. Weaver anchored the net with 12 blocks (1.71/set), including three solo, in back-to-back wins at Sam Houston. She also chipped in four digs and an ace while contributing offensively with 19 kills (2.71/set) on a .300 hitting percentage, showcasing a two-way impact in UTEP's undefeated weekend.
- Setter Kalia Kohler was named CUSA Setter of the Week in Week 2. The honor is her 11th career weekly award, setting the program record for the most all-time. Kohler also becomes just the fifth Miner setter to earn a solo weekly honor from the conference.
- Setter Duo Honored: Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler earned the first 2025 C-USA Co-Setter of the Week award. The pair combined for 110 assists over 10 sets in Sacramento, while also adding digs, aces, and kills to fuel the Miners' .310 team hitting percentage. This marks the sixth career co-award for the duo.
- Weaver Headlines Preseason Team: Middle blocker Kaya Weaver was named the 2025 Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year, leading a league-best four UTEP honorees on the Preseason All-CUSA Team. She was joined by Ema Uskokovic, Sara Pustahija, and Danika Washington. The Miners were picked second in the preseason poll, earning four first-place votes.
MINER RANKINGS
UTEP is currently 4th in the NCAA in match win percentage (.889), 7th in hitting percentage (.299), and 9th in opponent hitting percentage (.152), leading Conference USA in all three. The Miners also rank 38th in assists per set (12.59), 39th in both kills per set (13.61) and blocks per set (2.54), and 48th in aces per set (1.80), showcasing their all-around efficiency.
Individually, Kaya Weaver leads CUSA and is 20th nationally in hitting percentage (.420), while also ranking 7th in the league in blocks per set (1.02). Danika Washington is close behind, sitting 8th in CUSA in blocks per set (1.02), and Fuka Sekita ranks 7th in total digs (212), anchoring UTEP's defense.
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP VS. LA TECH
UTEP holds a commanding 21-7 lead in the all-time series against Louisiana Tech, including a 12-match win streak. Under head coach Ben Wallis, the Miners are a perfect 11-0 against the Bulldogs (6-0 at home). UTEP is 10-2 all-time at home versus LA Tech.
STREAK WATCH
UTEP enters the weekend on a seven-match win streak, while LA Tech has lost six straight.
SETTING THE PACE
- UTEP: 18 matches played, 59 total sets
- LA Tech: 20 matches played, 74 total sets
CUSA STANDINGS SNAPSHOT
UTEP and WKU are the only two teams undefeated in CUSA play. UTEP currently sits at the top of the standings. Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston are still searching for their first conference win.
SCOUTING LOUISIANA TECH
- Record: 7-13 (0-6 CUSA)
- Currently on a 6-match skid, with the last wins coming in back-to-back sweeps over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling to close non-conference play
- In CUSA action, all three of LA Tech's set wins have come against Delaware in two losses
- Jailen Hurley, a senior, leads the Bulldogs in kills eight times this year and is approaching 600 career kills (currently at 589)
- LA Tech ranks 94th nationally in team service aces (108), 6th in CUSA
- Riley Steubing leads the defensive effort, ranking 4th in CUSA in digs per set (3.86) and total digs (282). She is just three digs away from 700 in her collegiate career and has led LA Tech in digs 17 times this season.
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