EL PASO – UTEP Volleyball (11-6, 3-3 Conference USA) will host a pair of matches against FIU, Oct. 7-8, in Memorial Gym. Saturday's match is set for a 5 p.m. first serve, while Sunday's contest is slated for a matinee beginning at noon.
TICKETS
For the matches in Memorial Gym, tickets start at $8 and can be purchased through the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/Tickets or in person at 201 Glory Road (Brumbelow Building, UTEP campus) Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Season tickets are also still on sale. Group tickets are also available for $5 (minimum of 10 tickets).
SCHEDULE
Saturday, Oct. 7
Match 18 vs FIU – 6 pm | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Promo: Mental Health Awareness
Sunday, Oct. 8
Match 19 vs FIU – 12pm | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Promo: Pink Out
^All Times Mountain
Match 18 vs FIU – 6 pm | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Promo: Mental Health Awareness
Sunday, Oct. 8
Match 19 vs FIU – 12pm | Stream: ESPN+ | Live Stats | Promo: Pink Out
^All Times Mountain
HITTING WITH CONSISTENCY
UTEP is hitting .261 paced by seven Miners who are killing it at or above the mark. Kaya Weaver (.430) leads the team among players with at least 80 kills. The UTEP offense sits 34th in the nation in hitting percentage.
BLOCK PARTY
The Miners registered a season-high 18 blocks in the 3-1 win against San Francisco on Aug. 31. UTEP posted at least 10 blocks on 10 occasions – most recently against NM State with 14 blocks. Kaya Weaver (78.0) leads the charge among players with at least 45 blocks. Nationally, UTEP is sixth in team total blocks (171.0) and 27th in blocks per set (2.59).
BALANCED ATTACK
UTEP showed a balanced attack in the versus NM state with four Miners blasting home at least 2.0 kills per set. Danika Washington (23 kills, 2.56/set) led the charge with Marian Ovalle, Kaya Weaver (22 kills, 2.44/set) and Sakira LaCour (20 kills, 2.22/set) getting after it as well.
IN THE CUSA SPOTLIGHT
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Danika Washington was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week (Sep. 11) after picking up 17 blocks at the Bobcat Invitational, averaging 1.42 blocks per set. Washington totaled 35.5 points that included 27 kills with a .489 hitting percentage and was named to the Bobcat Invitational All-Tournament Team.
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Kalia Kohler was named Freshman of the Week (Sep. 11) after she averaged 5.54 assists per set through 13 sets leading the Miners to wins over Ohio and William & Mary. In a 6-2 system, she registered 20 or more assists in each match while she helped the UTEP defense to a .241 hitting clip. Kohler also racked up four aces, two kills and 20 digs on the weekend.
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Kohler earned her second CUSA Freshman of the Week award (Oct. 2) after her performance was influential in the Miner's success with a pair of sweeps over Jacksonville State. She led UTEP with a total of 29 assists (5.80/set) across the weekend and combined with Mattie Gantt for over 55 percent of assists in a 6-2 system. Kohler produced a .448 hitting clip and racked up one kill, three service aces and two digs in six sets.
MINER RANKINGS
In Conference USA, UTEP is ranked in the top three in six categories:
1. Team Total Blocks (171.0, 6th NCAA)
1. Team Service Aces (122, 17th NCAA)
1. Blocks per Set (2.59, 27th NCAA)
2. Aces per Set (1.85, 34th NCAA)
3. Hitting Pctg (0.261, 34th NCAA)
3. Match W-L Pctg (0.647, 90th NCAA)
UTEP has four players ranked in the top 10 in three categories in the conference:
1. Team Total Blocks (171.0, 6th NCAA)
1. Team Service Aces (122, 17th NCAA)
1. Blocks per Set (2.59, 27th NCAA)
2. Aces per Set (1.85, 34th NCAA)
3. Hitting Pctg (0.261, 34th NCAA)
3. Match W-L Pctg (0.647, 90th NCAA)
UTEP has four players ranked in the top 10 in three categories in the conference:
Statistic |
Player |
CUSA Rank |
Value |
|
Blocks per Set
|
1
4
|
1.24*
1.07
|
|
|
Total Blocks
|
1
7
8
|
78**
59
56
|
|
|
Total Digs
|
6
|
208
|
** NCAA Top 20
*NCAA Top 50
*NCAA Top 50
THE OPPONENT
FIU
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FIU is entering the weekend at 9-10 overall and 5-1 in CUSA. The team is ranked top-40 nationally in two team statistics – team service aces (No. 20, 121) and aces per set (No. 38, 1.83).
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The Panthers are hitting .204 as a team, and four players have at least 100 kills. Jade Sadeiko leads the way with 193 kills (2.92/set). Savannah Cook directs the offense with 445 assists (9.89/set). Mandi Morioka paces the squad with 228 digs (3.45/set).
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Amber Beals leads the conference in total services aces (30) and ranks third in aces per set (0.45)
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In her second season with the Panthers, Head Coach Cristina Robertson has a 17-31 record.
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The Miners are 6-3 against FIU.
"FIU is playing well and is coming in here tied for first potentially," head coach Ben Wallis said. "Having to play two good teams back-to-back is going to be hard on our kiddos. FIU has some pieces that can hurt you – one of them being our former players who plays a lot for them. That will be a lot for us to deal with. Our team is going to want to protect our home floor and we want to continue to maintain a perfect record at home."
Give a gift to UTEP Women's Volleyball by donating to the Point Miners Club.
For complete coverage of UTEP Women's Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepvb (Instagram) @UTEPVolleyball (Facebook) and @UTEPVB (Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.
For complete coverage of UTEP Women's Volleyball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @utepvb (Instagram) @UTEPVolleyball (Facebook) and @UTEPVB (Twitter) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.