EL PASO, Texas – (RV) UTEP volleyball treated the home crowd to a spooky-good performance on Friday night at Club Memorial, defeating Missouri State, 3-1 (25-11, 25-19, 21-25, 25-17), to open the Voll-O-Ween weekend on a winning note. 

With the victory, UTEP improves to 10-1 in Conference USA play and 20-3 overall, while Missouri State drops to 5-6 in league action and 10-12 on the season. 

The milestone win marks the 12th 20-win season in program history and the fourth under head coach Ben Wallis since his arrival in 2019 (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025). It also marks the eighth time in program history the Miners have reached 10 wins in conference play—including six times in CUSA (four under Wallis), once in the WAC (1996), and once in the OCAC (1984). 

MATCH SUMMARY 

The Miners dominated the opening frame, jumping out to a commanding lead behind a strong service game and efficient net play. The second set was more tightly contested, but UTEP maintained control down the stretch to take a 2-0 advantage. Missouri State battled back in the third, capitalizing on a few Miner miscues to edge out a 25-21 win and extend the match. UTEP quickly regrouped in the fourth, using consistent pressure from the service line and a solid blocking presence to pull away late and close out the match, 25-17. 

LEADERBOARD 

• Torrance Lovesee paced the Miners with a match-high 18 kills on a .500 hitting percentage while adding 12 digs for a double-double and a match-best 22.5 points.  
• Sara Pustahija followed with 11 kills, hitting .321 and recording a match-high three service aces.  
• Setters Kalia Kohler (22) and Mattie Gantt (17) combined for 39 assists to steer the UTEP offense.  
• Defensively, Fuka Sekita tallied 11 digs, while Danika Washington anchored the front line with seven block assists. 

SPLIT BOX 

Offensively, UTEP was led by a balanced attack that delivered efficiency and power across the board. The Miners hit .384 as a team while holding the Bears to just .176. UTEP led in every major statistical category: kills (54-47), assists (52-42), aces (9-3), digs (48-41), and blocks (13-7). 

SET-BY-SET 

ONE | UTEP came out firing in the opening set, overwhelming Missouri State with a dominant start that set the tone for the match. The Miners jumped to an 11-1 lead behind strong serving from Sara Pustahija and an efficient block led by Danika Washington and Landry Braziel. Pustahija contributed multiple aces and kills during the run, while UTEP's front line shut down MSU's attack with disciplined defense. The Miners cruised to a 25-11 win, hitting efficiently and capitalizing on numerous MSU errors to take a 1-0 match lead. 

TWO | The second set was more competitive, featuring several ties early on before UTEP found separation midway through. Consistent offense from Torrance Lovesee and Braziel, along with timely kills from Pustahija and Washington, helped the Miners pull ahead. UTEP benefited from MSU errors and a strong service game highlighted by aces from Fuka Sekita and Pustahija. Down the stretch, Lovesee sealed the set with a kill to secure the 25-19 win and give the Miners a 2-0 advantage. 

THREE | Missouri State responded with renewed energy in the third set, keeping pace with UTEP throughout. The Miners held small leads early, but MSU capitalized on a few UTEP miscues to gain momentum after the media timeout. Despite multiple kills from Lovesee and Washington, the Bears' late-set consistency allowed them to edge out UTEP, 25-21, to extend the match. 

FOUR | UTEP regained control in the fourth, using a balanced attack and tough serving to close out the match. Lovesee and Pustahija continued to pace the offense, combining for several key kills, while Fuka Sekita and Hannah Crowe added service pressure with a pair of aces. The Miners' front line once again took over late, with Washington and Braziel teaming up for blocks that shut down MSU's comeback efforts. Lovesee and Pustahija delivered back-to-back kills to finish off the set, 25-17, clinching the 3-1 victory. 

QUOTABLE 

"I thought Torrance and Sara were phenomenal tonight," head coach Ben Wallis said. "They just kept asking for the ball and found ways to score against a tough Missouri State block. We didn't go around the block—we punished it. That last point summed up the whole match: we dug it out, stayed in system, and Sara ripped it for the win. Offensively, we were really steady all night despite not passing our best. I'm proud of how everyone contributed—we used almost our entire roster, and we needed every one of them to get this win. To reach 20 wins again, with everything this group has been through, is something I'm extremely proud of. That's the mark of excellence, and to do it at home makes it even more special." 

UP NEXT 

The Miners and Bears will meet again on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 12 p.m. MT at Club Memorial. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+. 

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