The UTEP Miners crushed the competition last Saturday, maintaining their perfect record in Conference USA with a striking sweep against the NM State Aggies. UTEP's volleyball team showed no mercy in the 98th Battle of I-10, taking down their rivals in consecutive sets and pushing their season to an impressive 16-2 overall, as reported by UTEP Athletics. The Aggies were left trailing with an 11-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play after the match.
UTEP started strong, overpowering NM State with a 25-12 rout in the first set. The Miners kept the pressure high, with an early lead in the second set that eventually culminated in a 25-21 victory, despite a brief rally from the Aggies. The final set proved to be the tightest, with UTEP sealing their triumph in extra points at 26-24. Torrance Lovesee was at the forefront of UTEP's offensive attack, scoring 11 kills, while Kaya Weaver followed up with 10 kills and a stellar .421 hitting percentage.
Statistics highlighted by UTEP athletics reveal that the Miners held significant advantages in service aces (7-1) and total blocks (11-7). However, NM State edged out slightly in kills (35-31), assists (32-26), and digs (41-37), albeit not enough to dodge the loss. The Miners showcased their defensive capabilities, limiting the Aggies to a mere .089 hitting percentage, while themselves recording a .202 team percentage.
Since Ben Wallis took the helm of the UTEP volleyball program in 2019, his record against NM State improved to 7-4, marking this as the third season under Wallis that UTEP swept the Aggies (2021, 2024, 2025), a feat that embodies the continued success of UTEP's program. The Miners' next challenge will be hosting Louisiana Tech on October 17-18, accompanied by Alumni Weekend festivities and a "Pink Out" match in support of breast cancer awareness, adding a touch of community spirit to their athletic pursuits.
