Box Score WACO, Texas – The UTEP volleyball team wrapped up the Baylor Classic with a 3-0 setback to No. 18 Baylor on Friday night at the Ferrell Center. The Miners battled throughout the three-set match, falling 25-20, 25-21, 25-22, to move to 8-3 on the season, while the Bears improved to 8-2.
LEADERBOARD
Ema Uskokovic and
Mackenzi Davis paced the Miners with seven kills apiece.
Kalia Kohler and
Caryme Molina combined for 29 assists, with Kohler recording 15 and Molina adding 14. Uskokovic also posted a team-high eight digs, while Davis,
Luvina Oguntimehin and
Hannah Crowe each finished with three blocks. Davis led UTEP with 9.0 points.
SET-BY-SET
ONE | UTEP kept pace with Baylor early, with kills from
Lauren Perry, Uskokovic and Crowe helping the Miners stay within striking distance. A Crowe ace and another Uskokovic kill pulled UTEP within one at 8-9, before a Kohler ace tied the set at 10-10. The Miners remained within reach through the middle portion of the frame, with kills from Davis, Oguntimehin and Braziel helping UTEP close the gap to 18-20. Davis later made it 19-21, but Baylor closed the set with a 4-1 run to take the opening frame, 25-20.
TWO | UTEP jumped out to a 3-0 advantage to open the second set, highlighted by a Perry ace. The Miners maintained the lead behind kills from Oguntimehin, Davis, Crowe and Uskokovic, while a block assist from
Daisy Voskuhl and Oguntimehin pushed the advantage to 8-5. Baylor eventually leveled the set at 8-8, but UTEP regained control behind three consecutive kills from Oguntimehin, Uskokovic and a solo block from Davis to lead 12-11. The Miners held a 17-15 advantage following kills from Voskuhl and Davis, but Baylor responded with a 5-2 run to take a 20-19 lead. UTEP stayed within reach, getting kills from Crowe and Uskokovic, but Baylor secured the set, 25-21.
THREE | UTEP and Baylor traded points early before a Perry kill and a solo block from Braziel helped the Miners take a 6-6 tie. Widmer followed with an ace, and Perry added back-to-back kills to give UTEP a 9-6 advantage and force a Baylor timeout. The Miners continued to build momentum, with blocks from Perry and Oguntimehin and kills from the pair helping UTEP extend its lead to 12-8. UTEP pushed the advantage to 15-11 behind a series of blocks, then took a 19-14 lead following a Braziel kill. Baylor rallied to erase the deficit and eventually took a 21-20 lead. UTEP answered with a Braziel kill and a Baylor attack error to pull within one at 22-23, but the Bears scored the final two points to claim the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.
SPLITBOX
Baylor held the advantage in kills (54-34), assists (46-33) and digs (41-34). UTEP finished with the edge in aces (5-2) and blocks (8-2). The Miners hit .245 as a team, while Baylor registered a .336 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT
UTEP will return home to close out non-conference play when it hosts Arizona on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Club Memorial. The midweek matchup will serve as Student Appreciation Night.
Following the non-conference finale, the Miners will turn their attention to Mountain West play, opening conference action on the road at Wyoming on Sept. 25-26 in Laramie, Wyo.
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