College, Texas Volleyball Journal

UTEP enters CUSA tournament as No. 1 seed after historic regular season

From staff reports

Torrance Lovesee (6), Danika Washington (22), Emma Uskokovic (14) and Mattie Gant (20) celebrate a point. (Photo courtesy of UTEP athletics)

UTEP volleyball heads to Miami this week for the CUSA tournament carrying the momentum of one of the best seasons in program history. and the weight of the No. 1 overall seed.

The Miners (25–3, 15–1 CUSA) closed out the regular season by sweeping Florida International on Saturday to clinch a share of the Conference USA regular-season title with Western Kentucky. It marks the program’s best-ever conference finish and just the second regular-season title in school history.

UTEP posted dominant numbers throughout league play, leading CUSA in hitting percentage (.301), kills per set (13.85) and blocks per set (2.50) behind one of the most balanced and efficient offenses in the country

The Miners also finished the season with 13 sweeps—six of them in conference play.

Now, the focus turns to Miami, where the 2025 Conference USA Tournament runs Nov. 21–23 at FIU’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Sam Houston (11-18) did not qualify for the postseason tournament.

UTEP opens the tournament Friday at 12 p.m. ET against No. 8 seed Missouri State (11–16, 6–10), a team the Miners defeated twice earlier this season—both by 3–1 margins.

The winner of the tournament earns the league’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid, and UTEP enters as the clear favorite for a return to the field of 64 in back-to-back years. The Miners are likely a lock for the NCAA tournament even if they don’t win CUSA tournament

The Miners’ offensive trio of Torrance Lovesee, Sara Pustahija and Kaya Weaver has been one of the most productive in the nation. Lovesee leads UTEP with 3.30 kills per set and 290 total kills, hitting .273 across 26 matches and Pustahija adds 2.55 kills per set with 32 aces, giving the Miners a legitimate six-rotation scoring threat, while Weaver has been one of the most efficient attackers in CUSA, hitting .420 with 2.57 kills per set.

2025 CUSA volleyball tournament

Miami, Florida | Florida International University

Quarterfinals – Friday
Game 1: (1) UTEP vs. (8) Missouri State, 11 a.m. (ESPN+)
Game 2: (4) FIU vs. (5) Liberty, 1 p.m. (ESPN+)
Game 3: (2) Western Kentucky vs. (7) New Mexico State, 4 p.m., (ESPN+)
Game 4: (3) Kennesaw State vs. (6) Jacksonville State, 6 p.m., (ESPN+)

Semifinals – Saturday
Game 5: Winners of Game 1 and Game 2, 11 a.m. (ESPN+)
Game 6: Winners of Game 3 and Game 4, 1:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

Championship – Sunday
Game 7: Semifinal winners, 11 a.m., (ESPN+)