UTEP Volleyball falls to NMSU in Semi-Finals in five sets

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- UTEP volleyball’s (27-5) historic season came to a close Saturday evening in the Conference USA Championship semifinals at Memorial Gym, as the Miners fell in a hard-fought five-set battle to NM State (19-13).

MATCH SUMMARY             
In a hard-fought Battle of I-10, UTEP fell to NMSU 3-2 in a thrilling five-set match. UTEP claimed the first and third sets with strong offensive and defensive play, including efficient hitting and aggressive serving. NMSU responded with dominant second and fourth sets, forcing a decisive fifth. Despite UTEP’s resilience and contributions across the board, NMSU edged out the final set 15-12 to take the victory. 

LEADERBOARD               

• Ema Uskokovic powered the Miners' offense with a team-high 15 kills, hitting an impressive .364, while Kaya Weaver followed closely with 10 kills on an efficient .533 hitting percentage.  
• The setting duo of Kalia Kohler and Mattie Gantt orchestrated UTEP's attack, combining for 39 assists (25 and 14, respectively).  
• Uskokovic also showcased her all-around game with three aces and a team-leading four blocks.  
• Torrance Lovesee anchored the defense recording 10 digs.

SPLIT BOX                
NMSU held the statistical advantage in kills (63-52) and blocks (9-7). The Aggies registered a .290 hitting percentage and held the Miners to a .235 H%   

SET-BY-SET            
ONE | UTEP started strong against NMSU, quickly overcoming an early two-point deficit. A kill by Landry Braziel and an ace by Lovesee tied the game at 2-2, with Weaver adding a kill to take the lead. The Miners maintained pressure with key kills by Braziel, Weaver, and Lovesee, along with blocks by Uskokovic and Danika Washington. Back-to-back aces by Uskokovic extended UTEP’s advantage to 19-11. Despite a late surge by NMSU to close within one point at 21-22, UTEP’s resilience held firm with clutch kills by Braziel, Weaver, and Uskokovic to seal the set, 25-22. 

TWO | NMSU rebounded in the second set, building momentum with an 8-4 run. UTEP struggled to close the gap despite offensive contributions from Weaver, Lovesee, and Uskokovic. NMSU capitalized on Miner errors and maintained a commanding lead through the set. Despite two timeouts by UTEP to regroup, NMSU's relentless pace resulted in a decisive 25-16 win, leveling the match at one set apiece. 

THREE | UTEP came out firing in the third set, storming to a 4-0 lead with contributions from Weaver, Braziel, and an ace by Kohler. The Miners extended their advantage with aggressive play at the net, including kills by Lovesee and Braziel, and a block by Braziel. Aces by Gantt and Madison Hill kept NMSU off-balance, and Sara Pustahija’s kill secured a commanding 25-17 win for the Miners, putting them up 2-1 in the match.

FOUR | In a tightly contested fourth set, both teams exchanged points early on, with Weaver, Washington, and Lovesee leading the UTEP attack. Uskokovic’s blocks and an ace by Kohler brought UTEP back into the game after an NMSU lead. Despite tying the score multiple times, the Miners couldn’t regain control. NMSU capitalized on a late run, pulling ahead to force a fifth set with a 25-21 victory.

FIVE | The final set began as a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to establish a definitive lead. UTEP relied on Uskokovic's offensive firepower and solid blocking from Washington and Uskokovic to stay within reach. However, NMSU found their rhythm late, closing the match with a 15-12 win despite UTEP’s valiant effort. The Aggies emerged victorious, taking the match 3-2.

“I love this team and everything they’ve accomplished this season,” UTEP head coach Ben Wallis said. “It hurts deeply to see them fall short of playing for a championship tomorrow, but I’m unbelievably proud of the program we’ve built. From the beginning, our goal wasn’t just to win a championship but to become a championship-caliber program, and I know we’ve achieved that. The city is proud of them, and I’m proud of them. Today, we struggled with physicality at the point of attack and consistency in blocking, serving, and hitting, which are usually our strengths. NM State played with pride and earned their victory, but nothing takes away from what this team has done for UTEP Volleyball and El Paso."