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Volleyball

UTEP Volleyball Heads to Tucson to Face Arizona

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Volleyball team has announced their upcoming match against the Arizona Wildcats on September 16, 2024. The Miners are currently ranked 8-1 overall and will travel to Tucson, Arizona, to take on the Wildcats at McKale Center, with a scheduled start time of 7 p.m. MDT. This matchup marks the third time in four weeks that the Miners will face a team from the Pac-12 conference.

Key Takeaways:

  • UTEP Volleyball enters the week with an impressive 8-1 overall record, showcasing their strong performance in the early stages of the season.
  • The Miners have recently hosted the Sun City Classic, where they defeated Texas Southern and Oral Roberts in straight sets, while falling to nationally ranked No. 24 UCLA in the tournament opener.
  • Sophomore Landry Braziel showcased a record-setting performance, hitting .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.
  • Braziel, along with teammates Danika Washington and Sara Pustahija, earned spots on the Sun City Classic All-Tournament Team.
  • The Miners have established themselves as one of the better blocking teams in the league, totaling 73.0 blocks through nine matches, with a collective margin of outblocking their opponents by 73-48.
  • The team's offense is spread across multiple options, with four players averaging at least 2.0 kills per set, including Torrance Lovesee (3.03 kills per set), Kaya Weaver (2.38 kills per set), Pustahija (2.34 kills per set), and Braziel (2.33 kills per set).
  • The Miners have recorded three victories against defending conference champion teams and NCAA Tournament participants, showcasing their strength in the competition.

Statistics:

  • UTEP Volleyball is ranked 9th in the NCAA and 1st in Conference USA with a team hitting percentage of .315.
  • Four Miners have at least 50 kills, with hitting percentages above the team mark: Washington (.418), Weaver (.402), Braziel (.368), and Pustahija (.326).
  • The Miners have posted a season-high 12 blocks against both Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Oral Roberts.
  • Washington leads the team with 29 total blocks.
  • The Miners have recorded 73.0 blocks through nine matches, with a collective margin of outblocking their opponents by 73-48.

Sources:

  • "UTEP Volleyball (8-1) hits the road for Tucson, Arizona, to face the Arizona Wildcats on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at McKale Center." (UTEP Athletics)
  • "The Miners recently hosted the Sun City Classic at Club Memorial, where they defeated Texas Southern and Oral Roberts in straight sets after falling to nationally ranked No. 24 UCLA in the tournament opener." (UTEP Athletics)
  • "Braziel, along with teammates Danika Washington and Sara Pustahija, earned spots on the Sun City Classic All-Tournament Team." (UTEP Athletics)

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