EL PASO, Texas – UTEP beach volleyball heads back to Tucson, Arizona, for the second time this season, set to compete in the Arizona Invitational hosted by the University of Arizona, March 20–21 at Bear Down Beach.

The Miners (3-9) will open the weekend on Friday against San Francisco and No. 19 Arizona. UTEP closes out the tournament on Saturday with a pair of Conference USA matchups against Missouri State and Tarleton State.

SCHEDULE

Friday, March 20
San Francisco | 11:15 am MDT
#19 Arizona | 3 pm MDT

Saturday, March 21
Missouri State | 10 am MDT
Tarleton State | 1:45 pm MDT

Coverage: Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT: BAYOU BEACH DUALS

UTEP enters the weekend following a competitive showing at the Bayou Beach Duals in New Orleans, where the Miners went 1-3 across two days of action.

UTEP opened the tournament with a 3-2 victory over Southeastern Louisiana, earning wins on courts two, three and four. The duo of Llewellyn and Popovic set the tone with a straight-set win on court two, while Loera and Monreal added another point on court four. Paegle and Threet clinched the dual on court three with a strong straight-set performance.

The Miners later fell 5-0 to RV Tulane, battling through several tight sets, including a three-set match on court five.

Saturday featured two narrow 3-2 losses. UTEP split courts in both duals but came up just short against Texas A&M–Kingsville and McNeese. Against the Javelinas, Llewellyn and Popovic earned a three-set win on court two, while Oporto and Schubert added a point on court five. Versus McNeese, Acuna and Hill opened scoring on court one, and Paegle and Threet added another victory on court three, but both duals ultimately slipped away in the deciding matches.

PAIRS TO WATCH

Acuna/Hill (Court 1)
UTEP's top pair continues to battle against elite competition. After facing multiple nationally ranked opponents earlier this season, the duo posted a 1-3 mark at the Bayou Beach Duals—all on court one—with a win over McNeese. Acuna and Hill hold a 5-7 overall record and have consistently pushed matches to three sets.

Llewellyn/Popovic (Court 2)
One of UTEP's most versatile pairings, Llewellyn and Popovic went 2-2 at the Bayou Beach Duals, earning wins against Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese. Competing primarily on court two, the pair is now 5-6 on the year and has shown the ability to compete across multiple flights.

Paegle/Threet (Court 3)
A newer pairing for the Miners, Paegle and Threet made an immediate impact in New Orleans, finishing 2-2 with victories over Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese. The duo has quickly emerged as a reliable option in the middle of the lineup.

SCOUTING THE FIELD

• San Francisco (6-7): UTEP looks to avenge a 3-2 loss from the 2024 meeting.

• #19 Arizona (11-4): The Wildcats have won all six previous matchups against the Miners.

• Missouri State (11-0): Undefeated entering the weekend; UTEP leads the all-time series 2-1.

• Tarleton State (4-8): The Miners won the lone meeting in 2025, 4-1.

SERIES HISTORY

• vs. San Francisco: 0-1

• vs. Arizona: 0-6

• vs. Missouri State: 2-1

• vs. Tarleton State: 1-0

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