EL PASO, Texas – (RV) UTEP Volleyball heads into its most pivotal weekend of the Conference USA schedule, traveling to take on (RV) Western Kentucky in a top-of-the-table clash on October 24–25. Both teams enter the series undefeated in league play and receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Poll, setting the stage for a high-stakes matchup that could determine the regular-season frontrunner.
Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.
SCHEDULE
LAST TIME OUT
UTEP Volleyball continued its unbeaten run in Conference USA play with back-to-back 3–1 victories over Louisiana Tech last weekend at Memorial Gym.
In Friday's opener, the Miners fought through a gritty four-set battle to earn a 25–7, 25–27, 25–22, 25–23 win. UTEP responded again on Saturday, executing a more complete performance to take the match 25–19, 25–21, 27–29, 25–14. The Miners extended their win streak to nine matches and improved to 18–2 overall and 8–0 in league play.
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
The Miners are one of the most efficient attacking teams in the nation, hitting .292 as a group—ranking ninth in NCAA Division I. Three Miners are hitting at or above that mark with at least 110 kills: Kaya Weaver (.420), Danika Washington (.333), and Sara Pustahija (.292). UTEP has hit over .300 as a team in nine matches this season, including two .400-plus performances (.459 vs. Oral Roberts, .400 vs. NM State).
BLOCK PARTY
UTEP has totaled 175.0 team blocks and has posted double-digit blocks in 10 matches this season, including a season-high 14 against Louisiana Tech. The Miners have out-blocked opponents 175–127 this season. Danika Washington leads the team with 71 total blocks and ranks among CUSA's top five.
BALANCED ATTACK
Four Miners are averaging at least 2.0 kills per set with 140+ total kills: Torrance Lovesee (2.94), Kaya Weaver (2.57), Sara Pustahija (2.40), and Landry Braziel (2.18). Lovesee, Pustahija, and Braziel have started all 20 matches this season, with Lovesee and Pustahija appearing in all 67 sets. As a team, UTEP is averaging 13.61 kills per set, ranking 46th 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 1,108 career kills, ranking seventh in program history.
HEAVY HITTERS
UTEP's season-high for kills is 61 (vs. Arizona), marking the most in a four-set match this season. The Miners' best three-set output came in the season opener against Sacramento State (45). Six Miners have surpassed the 100-kill mark this season, with Lovesee leading the way at 197, followed by Pustahija with 161.
THROUGH 20
This marks just the second time in program history UTEP has dropped only two matches through its first 20 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 8-0 start in CUSA play for the second straight year and just the second time ever (2025, 2024).
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 continues to shine statistically on the national stage:
- 3rd – Match W-L Percentage (.900) - 1st CUSA
- 8th – Opponent Hitting Percentage (.147) - 1st CUSA
- 9th – Hitting Percentage (.292)
- 31st – Blocks per Set (2.61) - 1st CUSA
- 35th – Aces per Set (1.82)
- 39th – Assists per Set (12.60)
- 46th – Kills per Set (13.61)
Individually, Kaya Weaver leads CUSA in hitting percentage (.420, 18th NCAA). Kalia Kohler ranks sixth in the league in aces per set (0.41). Danika Washington is fourth in blocks per set (1.04) and fifth in total blocks (70). Fuka Sekita sits eighth in total digs (240).
SERIES HISTORY: UTEP VS. WKU
Western Kentucky leads the all-time series 17–0, with the first meeting dating back to 2014. The Miners have taken nine sets from the Hilltoppers, including tightly contested four- and five-set matches in the last three meetings.
STREAKS & STANDINGS
- UTEP enters the weekend on a nine-match win streak, while WKU has won eight straight.
- The Miners sit atop the Conference USA standings, with WKU close behind. Both programs are the only remaining undefeated teams in league play.
- In the latest AVCA Coaches Poll, UTEP received 14 votes while WKU received 10.
- In the NCAA RPI, UTEP ranks 26th and WKU 49th, making this a top-50 showdown.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
- The Hilltoppers enter the weekend at 17–4 overall and 8–0 in CUSA. WKU ranks among the nation's top teams in several statistical categories:
- 5th – Hitting Percentage (.303) - 1st CUSA
- 6th – Assists per Set (13.44) - 1st CUSA
- 6th – Kills per Set (14.44) - 1st CUSA
- 25th – Match W-L Percentage (.810)
- 30th – Opponent Hitting Percentage (.172)
- Individually, Izzy Van De Wiele leads CUSA and ranks 50th nationally in blocks per set (1.29). Faith Young is second in the league in hitting percentage (.374). Callie Bauer ranks second in assists per set (9.55) and fourth in total assists (630). Taylor Baron is seventh in CUSA in digs (250).
- WKU recently earned its 100th consecutive conference regular-season victory, joining Florida (145, 1995–2004) and Hawai'i (114, 1998–2006) as one of only three programs in NCAA history to accomplish the feat.
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