UTEP Volleyball Continues Non-Conference Schedule at Southwest Showdown

Strategic Insights -

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Volleyball team is set to continue its non-conference schedule at the 2nd annual Southwest Showdown hosted by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) in Edinburg, Texas. The Miners will face Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, UTRGV, and Texas State across three days of action from September 4-6. UTEP is coming off a championship run at the Sacramento State Invitational, finishing 3-0.

Key Takeaways:

  • UTEP Volleyball has started the season 3-0, including a championship run at the Sacramento State Invitational.
  • The Miners enter the weekend hitting .310 as a team, ranking 22nd nationally and first in Conference USA.
  • Sara Pustahija leads the team with a .368 hitting percentage, while Torrance Lovesee is hitting .357 and Luvina Oguntimehin follows at .318.
  • The team's offense has been well-distributed, with four players averaging at least 2.0 kills per set with a minimum of 20 kills.
  • Middle blockers Danika Washington and Kaya Weaver lead the team with 10.0 blocks each through the opening weekend.
  • UTEP has gone undefeated in 37 tournaments in program history and has opened 3-0 on 12 occasions, including this season.
  • Setters Mattie Gantt and Kalia Kohler earned the first 2025 C-USA Co-Setter of the Week award, combining for 110 assists over 10 sets in Sacramento.
  • 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.

Statistics:

  • UTEP's team hitting percentage stands at .310 as of the opening weekend, ranking 22nd nationally and first in Conference USA.
  • The Miners' attack has been powered by three players hitting at or above .310 with at least 20 kills, with Sara Pustahija leading the way at a .368 clip.
  • Danika Washington and Kaya Weaver lead the team with 10.0 blocks each through the opening weekend.
  • UTEP's offense has been well-distributed, with four players averaging at least 2.0 kills per set with a minimum of 20 kills.
  • The team's block total stands at 23.0 through the opening weekend.

Sources:

  • [UTEP Volleyball News Release](n/a)
  • [ESPN+ Schedule](n/a)
  • [Conference USA Website](n/a)
  • [NCAA Team Stats](n/a)
  • [Conference USA Preseason Poll](n/a)