EL PASO, Texas – UTEP Volleyball (9-1) wraps up non-conference play this weekend in the Lone Star State. The Miners will face nationally-ranked No. 10 SMU on Friday, Sept. 19 in Nacogdoches, Texas, before facing host Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Debbie Humphreys Court inside Shelton Gym. 

 SCHEDULE   

LAST TIME OUT 

OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER 

The Miners rank sixth nationally in hitting percentage (.324) and lead Conference USA in the category. Five Miners are hitting .300 or better with at least 50 kills, including two over the .400 mark. Middle blocker Kaya Weaver leads the team at .422, followed by Danika Washington at .410. 

BLOCK PARTY 

UTEP has totaled 83.0 blocks on the season, out-blocking opponents 83-50. The Miners have reached double-digit blocks four times, highlighted by a season-high 12 against both Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Oral Roberts. Washington leads the way with 34.0 blocks (1.03 per set). 

BALANCED ATTACK 

Four Miners are averaging at least 2.0 kills per set with 50 or more kills on the season: Lovesee (3.18), Weaver (2.40), Sara Pustahija (2.36), and Landry Braziel (2.32). Each has started all 10 matches and already surpassed the 70-kill mark. 

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. 

THE 1K KILL CLUB 

Lovesee became the 14th Miner in program history to reach 1,000 career kills during the win at Arizona. She was also the first Miner to reach 100 kills on the season. 

AFTER 10 

UTEP's 9-1 start marks just the third time in program history the Miners have dropped only one match through their first 10 contests (2025, 2011, 1997). The lone setback this season came against then-No. 24 UCLA in El Paso. 

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     

• 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.    

  NATIONAL & CONFERENCE RANKINGS     

UTEP ranks among the nation's best in multiple categories (top 50): 

• 6th in hitting percentage (.324) 
• 14th in both match win-loss percentage (.900) and opponent hitting percentage (.142) 
• 16th in kills per set (14.18) 
• 20th in assists per set (13.12) 
• 49th in total blocks (83.0).  
• The Miners lead Conference USA in every one of those categories.  

Individually, middle blocker Kaya Weaver leads CUSA and is ranked 28th nationally in hitting percentage (.422). Landry Braziel also ranks among the league leaders, sitting fifth in hitting percentage (.361). Danika Washington has been a defensive force, ranking fifth in both blocks per set (1.03) and total blocks (34). On the back row, libero Fuka Sekita is fifth in the conference in digs per set (4.00) and total digs (128). 

THE OPPONENTS 

#10 SMU 

• Record: 6-2 
• The Mustangs are ranked No. 10 in the AVCA Coaches Poll and opened the season in the preseason top 10 for the first time in program history. 
• SMU leads the ACC in hitting percentage (.290), which ranks 21st nationally. 
• Setter Averi Carlson leads the ACC in assists per set (11.41) and total assists (365), ranking fourth and ninth nationally, respectively. 
• Opposite hitter Malaya Jones was named to the AVCA Preseason National Player of the Year Watch List. 
• SMU leads the all-time series against UTEP, 22-9. The programs last met in 2015 (SMU, 3-1 in Dallas). This weekend marks the first neutral-site matchup between the two teams. 

Stephen F. Austin 

• Record: 5-4 
• The Lumberjacks swept Tarleton State on Tuesday to open the week. 
• SFA went 24-9 overall and 14-2 in the Southland Conference last season, advancing to the NIVC Super Sixteen. 
• The Lumberjacks return 11 players accounting for over 91% of their points from 2024, including all three First Team All-SLC selections: Katherine Holtman, Izabella Ortiz, and Kyanna Creecy. 
• SFA leads the Southland in assists per set (12.86) and kills per set (13.45), ranking 36th and 53rd nationally. 
• UTEP holds a 5-6 all-time record against SFA. The Miners won the most recent meeting, 3-1, in El Paso last season. 

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