In a groundbreaking achievement for the University of Texas at El Paso, the women’s volleyball team clinched their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid, joining 64 teams in the national showdown. Following an impressive season with a 27-5 record, UTEP secured one of 33 at-large bids, as confirmed in the announcements by the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee on Sunday evening. As reported by KVIA, the Miners are joined by WKU, another Conference USA school, in securing a ticket to the tournament.
The team is scheduled to face the University of Oklahoma in their first-round match on December 6, in Pittsburgh, with the solid team holding a regular-season record of 14-10. As detailed by KTSM, this encounter will be the fourth meeting between the two squads, including a memorable forfeit victory for UTEP in the season opener of 1979, and more recent Oklahoma wins.
Led by head coach Ben Wallis, elation was the operative word within the UTEP camp, encapsulating the spirit and hard work culminating in this historical moment. "This is a momentous day for UTEP volleyball," Wallis said, as obtained by KTSM. He gave credit not only to the current roster but also to former players who contributed to building the foundation of the program.
The team watched their fate unfold at a party at the Don Haskins Center, with expectations running high among the players. Setter Kalia Kohler, connected to the Oklahoma team through two former teammates, expressed the collective relief and joy, "It was super exciting," she said, as per El Paso Times. Their first tournament appearance is a testament to a season of tremendous effort and achievement, painting a picture of a program on the rise.
