Aug. 26, 2010

UTEP Weekly Release 1

FOR STARTERS

The Miners open their 2010 campaign in the Hilton RTP/NCCU Volleyball Tournament hosted by North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C. The Miners open with a full slate on Friday, taking on Delaware State, Elon and tournament host North Carolina Central. They close out the invite on Saturday verusus Gardener-Webb and Charleston Southern. This is the first time since the program started 37 years ago that the Miners have opened the season in the Tar Heel State.

The Miners return six letterwinners from last year’s squad including senior veterans, setter Patty Jarmoc and libero Jennifer Nolasco. The pair, alongside junior outside hitter, M.T. Joyce and sophomore middle, Cassandra Burruel, saw significant action on a team that finished 11-18  (4-12 C-USA) in 2009. UTEP has loaded themselves with six newcomers - one junior transfer and five true freshmen - all who could have an immediate impact on the court. 

UTEP IN SEASON OPENERS

UTEP opens its 37^th season of collegiate volleyball when it faces Delaware State in the 2010 season opener. The Miners are 20-16 and are 2-2 under Ken Murphyin lidlifters. The Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament marks the first time in five season the Miners have opened their campaign away from their home court after hosting the season opening tournament the past four seasons. The Miners go into tomorrow’s match against Delaware State  with an 8-5 record in season openers on neutral territory. The Miners have opened the season in tournment play in 25 of the program’s 36 years. 

LOOKING AHEAD

The Miners will face I-10 rival NM State in a back-to-back away-home series. UTEP heads to Las Cruces on Sept. 3 to face the Aggies received votes in the Bison/AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll. The two teams will duke it out in El Paso on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gym.

NICE TO MEET YOU

UTEP has never played four of the five squads it will face this weekend at the Hilton RTP/NCCU Tournament. The Miners will meet Delaware State, Elon, North Carolina Central and Gardner-Webb for the first time on the volleyball court. UTEP faced Charleston Southern, who they play on Saturday, a year ago at the ASU Sheraton Classic. 

SCOUTING DELAWARE STATE

SERIES RECORD: First Meeting.

Delaware State comes into Friday’s match picked to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference  North Division. The Hornets finished their 2009 slate 20-12 on the season and return senior outside hitter, Erica Tajchman, who was named to the league’s preseason team after tallying 313 kills and 221 digs a year ago. Delaware State ranked fourth nationally in service aces (1.98 per set) and return their top server, Ashley Herman. Herman led all Division I athletes in aces, averaging .63 per set while combining for 67 total. 

SCOUTING ELON

SERIES RECORD: First Meeting.

Picked to finish second in the Southern Confernce North Division, Elon comes into Friday’s match after ending the season with a program-best 23 victories in 2009. The Phoenix return all-conference selections Caroline Lunke and Traci Stewart as well as all-freshman honoree Ali Deatsch. Lunke led the team in kills with 270 (2.43/s), hitting percentage (.285) and blocks with 111 (22s/89a). Stewart was close behind, ranking second in kills with 258 while contributing 181 digs. Deatsch took the reigns at libero as a true freshman last season, collecting a team-leading 448 digs (3.83/s).

SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL

SERIES RECORD: First Meeting.

North Carolina Central is in its final season as a reclassifying independent. The Eagles will join the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference beginning with the 2011 campaign. NCCU, who is hosting this weekend’s tournament, finished 9-23 last season, including a 5-8 home record. The Eagles return their top hitter from a season ago - senior outside hitter, Belinda Behncke-Biney. Behncke-Biney led NCCU in kills, landing 302 attempts. She also ranked first on the team in aces (41) and second in digs (240).

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

SERIES RECORD: First Meeting.

Despite finishing 2009 with a 12-22 record a season ago, Gardner-Webb comes into the 2010 campaign with five of its six starters. The Runnin’ Bulldogs are a young squad with nine of the players underclassmen. GWU has three juniors and no seniors to help guide the young team. Gardner-Webb returns All-Big South selection and the 2008 Freshman of the YEar, Laura Wilcox. Wilcox finished her sophomore season with 368 kills, 60 blocks and a .335 hitting percentage. 

SCOUTING CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

SERIES RECORD: UTEP leads the series 1-0. 

THE LAST TIME: UTEP topped the Buccaneers 3-0 on route to a 5-1 tournament finish at the ASU Sheraton Classic last season. The Miners won 25-15, 25-22 and 25-23 in the inaugural meet. 

The Miners will end the weekend against Charleston Southern. The Buccaneers ended 2009 17-17 and return five of their six starters and lost just three letterwinners from last season. Amanda Hill, a preseason Big South selection returns after leading CSU in kills, slamming 472 (3.84/s). She ranked second in aces (35) and digs (408).

CHASING CHRIS

Setter Patty Jarmoc enters the 2010 season ranked fourth all-time in career assists with 3,187. The senior, who averages 1,062 assists per season, needs 1,024 assists to become UTEP’s all-time career leader held for 11 years by Chris Brandl (4,210). The Canadian needs just 200 assists to move into third place and 223 will place her second all-time.

THE CHASE CONTINUES

Jarmoc also enters the 2010 season fifth in the career service aces with 110. Five more will move her into fourth all-time, 24 in to third and 28 into second place. She needs 39 service aces to topple Chris Brandl who has 148 and who Jarmoc is chasing for the all-time assist record. 

YOU CAN’T GET THROUGH HERE

The UTEP front court, ranked 28th natinoally and second in the league in blocks (2.6 per set), returns its top blocker Cassandra Burruel. Burruel finished last season fourth amongst C-USA players averaging 1.12 blocks per set. She broke the four-set match record with 12 assisted net stops against Marshall (10/18/09). 

CONFERENCE SHAKES IT UP

A new Conference USA volleyball format for schedule begins in 2010. The league eliminated its conference championship. The league’s teams will now play 20 conference matches instead of 16. The regular-season champion will earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.