UTEP unveils inaugural UTEP beach volleyball schedule for 2023
EL PASO, Texas - UTEP Beach Volleyball Head Coach Ben Wallis has announced the Miners' tournament schedule for the upcoming inaugural season, featuring 21 road matches set to begin at the end of February.
“I’m fired up to get rolling in a few weeks with our inaugural beach season,” Wallis said. “Our beach only players have been really working and learning since August on how to move this program in the right direction. Our tournament in Tucson, Ariz. in the fall was a great experience, and now that we’ve added our crossover players from the indoor side full time, we’re itching to get going to see how good we can be. Measuring ourselves this first season against good competition was high on the priority list for Daniel (Foo) and I, and we’re looking forward to seeing how far away we are from competing in or winning Conference USA.”
The Miners’ beach volleyball roster is composed of 14 student-athletes, including eight players who are part of the indoor team, including newcomer Deanna Almaguer.
UTEP's roster also features beach-only recruits Aaliyah Austin, Savannah Morenco, Krista Paegle, and Paulina Acuna, plus recent Sul Ross and Boise State transfers, Mia Bella Ruiz and Katie Martin.
The Miners will have some quality opponents on the schedule in 2023.
Three of UTEP’s opponents participated in the national tournament, with two finishing in the Elite 8.
“I’m so excited for the start of the season,” Associate Head Coach Daniel Food said. “We have challenged the girls every day, and they have responded with flying colors. We are beyond ready to kick the inaugural season off. This schedule is a great opportunity to grow and evaluate our skills while also giving us plenty of challenges before the conference tournament. All the girls have worked so hard to create something very special for our first season.”
The Miners will travel to five tournaments this spring semester, starting with Arizona's Cactus Classic the weekend of Feb. 24-25 and concluding with the TCU Tournament from April 7-8.
UTEP is the eighth Conference USA school to field a beach volleyball team, joining FIU, Florida Atlantic, UAB, and Tulane (affiliate).
The season will begin on Feb. 24 when the team travels to Tucson for the Cactus Classic, hosted by Arizona. The Miners will face the Wildcats, along with Colorado Mesa, Oregon, and Arizona State.
UTEP will shift over to Bakersfield on Mar. 10 to square off against CSU Bakersfield, Concordia Irvine and Master’s.
Heading to Louisiana next, UTEP will play Southeastern Louisiana before competing in the Mardi Gras Classic on Mar. 17.
The season will feature a second round of tournament play on Mar. 31 in Tuscon for Arizona’s Wildcat Spring Challenge.
Joining the Miners will be Santa Clara, Colorado Mesa and Missouri State.
UTEP will cap off the regular season at the TCU Tournament on Apr. 7 and will go up against the Horned Frogs, Florida Gulf, Houston Christian, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Conference USA Championship will be played Apr. 27-29 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
See full schedule here.
