The UTEP volleyball team (12-9, 6-2 Conference USA) took the home win in a sweep over conference rival the University of San Antonio (7-13, 2-6 Conference USA) Friday. The win comes off a 3-1 loss in which the Miners suffered to the current leader of C-USA, Western Kentucky University (19-2, 7-0 Conference USA) Oct. 16. 

Graduate student outside hitter Serena Patterson and freshman outside hitter Torrance Lovesee contributed 11 kills each, while freshman outside rightside hitter Sara Pustahija contributed eight of her own, while also contributing four aces.  

Freshman middle blocker, Kaya Weaver, led the way in blocks with five, while freshman setter Mattie Gantt, junior setter Hande Yetis and Patterson combined for a total of 44 assists. Senior defensive specialist/libero Hula Crisostomo also contributed a team-high six digs. 

First set  

The Miners and the Roadrunners battled for the first few minutes of the set with a 5-5 tie. A kill by Pustahija put the Miners up 6-5. The Miners never allowed the Roadrunners to take the lead as UTEP went on to win the set 25-16.  

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Joel Molina

Freshman setter Mattie Gantt throws the picks up for the crowd in attendance before the game against UTSA on Oct. 21.

Second set 

The second set was similar to the first as it was neck and neck for the first few moments with the game tied 7-7. A kill by freshman middle blocker Kaya Weaver put the Miners up 8-7 and once again they never looked back winning the set 25-18. 

Third Set

The third and final set was high-pitched as the Roadrunners were not going down without a fight. The Miners found themselves with its first major deficit of the night being down 12-6. Five unanswered points got them back into the set and brought the game to 12-11. The Roadrunners took control of the set going back up 17-12. The Miners then w

orked its way back, allowing only six points for the Roadrunners while scoring 11 of its own, which brought the game to 23-23. A service ace by Pustahija and a kill by Lovesee gave the Miners the two points they needed to win the set and the game.  

“I feel good about this win tonight,” said Head Coach Ben Wallis in a press release. “We kept playing bullet balls as we like to call it. We’re going to keep coming at you. It’s like a boxer, eventually those jabs are going to get you an eventual haymaker.”  

The Miners will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina to take on conference rival Charlotte (8-12, 2-6 Conference USA) at 11 a.m. Sunday Oct. 23. The game may be streamed live on ESPN+. 

Stats provided by UTEP Athletics. 

Joel Molina is a contributor and may be reached at [email protected]