UTEP Volleyball Looks To Build On Historic Season
The most successful program at UTEP right now is the volleyball team—and there's no debate about that.
Led by head coach Ben Wallis, now entering his seventh year at the helm, the team returns 13 players from the 2024 squad that made the NCAA Tournament—the first time in school history the Miners went dancing.
But even with all the accolades and accomplishments, the Miners are still chasing one thing: a conference championship. And with a core group of seniors who’ve spent all four years in El Paso, this season is their last shot.
“To leave Conference USA and college with a conference championship—that’s always been my goal since I got here,” senior All-American middle blocker Kaya Weaver said. She’s entering her final season with the Miners.
Beyond Weaver, this year’s roster is loaded with talent that can compete with nearly any team in the country. Five other returning players have earned All-Conference USA honors: outside hitters Ema Uskokovic and Torrance Lovesee, middle blocker Danika Washington, and setter Kalia Kohler. Fourth-year veterans Sara Pustahija and Mattie Gantt also return to add experience and depth.
“I think it’s a better version of our team from last year,” Lovesee said. “I’m grateful I get to finish at UTEP with a team that’s ready to go out and give it their all.”
Wallis and his staff have also struck gold on the recruiting trail. Sophomores Landry Braziel and Lauren Perry—both of whom made the All-Conference Freshman Team in 2024—are expected to play even bigger roles this season.
“They’ve both continued to get better,” Wallis said. “We’ve got a lot of good young players who are going to make an impact on this team along with our veterans.”
Keeping a roster this stacked intact is rare in today’s college sports landscape. With the transfer portal and graduation constantly reshaping teams, UTEP was fortunate to keep nearly its entire core—losing only one starter in libero Alyssa Sianez, who graduated.
Originally, the Miners were expected to lose two starters. Danika Washington believed her collegiate career had ended after UTEP’s five-set loss to Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament. The senior had played two seasons at UTEP after transferring from Vernon Junior College.
“I was gonna go to LinkedIn,” Washington joked. “I was gonna have to find a job.���
But thanks to a monumental lawsuit led by former NMSU quarterback Diego Pavia against the NCAA, all JUCO transfers were granted an extra year of eligibility. So, UTEP fans have one unexpected reason to appreciate a former Aggie.
“It’s awesome,” Wallis said of Washington’s return. “It’s like having another coach back for the year.”
With Washington back in the mix, the Miners look poised to make another NCAA Tournament run—and they have the schedule to prepare for it. UTEP opens the 2025 season on August 29 at the Sacramento State Tournament, where they’ll face three quality West Coast programs, including a Hornets team that made the NCAA field last year.
They’ll then return to Texas for the Southwest Showdown in Edinburg, taking on three postseason teams:
- Texas State (Defending Sun Belt champions)
- Texas A&M–Corpus Christi (Defending Southland champions)
- UTRGV (NIVC participant)
UTEP’s home opener comes on September 11, when they host UCLA in Memorial Gym as part of their “Sun City” game. A sellout crowd is expected for the Big Ten powerhouse.
From there, non-conference play continues with more postseason opponents. The Miners will travel to Tucson to take on Arizona, the defending NIVC champions, followed by a trip to the Stephen F. Austin tournament to face a 24-win Lumberjack team. They’ll then meet SMU, a 2024 NCAA Tournament team.
That adds up to four NCAA Tournament teams and three NIVC teams on UTEP’s non-conference slate—not even including a retooled UCLA roster that’s made waves with their off-season spending.
Tough schedules are nothing new for Wallis’ program. Last year, UTEP’s non-conference resume helped them earn an at-large bid to the tournament.
“It’s a test every single weekend,” Wallis said. “I feel like we’re going to have some good, tough examinations.”
After that, UTEP turns its attention to Conference USA play, where things won’t get any easier. The Miners will have to travel to face both WKU and NMSU, the only two teams to beat them in league play last season.
“We’ve got some early tests on the road in conference play,” Wallis said. “But we have a veteran group, so we’re used to those things.”
UTEP made history last year by reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. And under Wallis, the program has shown steady improvement every year. But this team wants more: a conference title and a tournament win.
“We’re deep, we’re physical, we’re veteran,” Wallis said. “If we can stay out of our own way, we’re gonna be tough to beat.”