September 16, 2026
UTEP volleyball has been one of the hottest teams in the country through the opening weeks of the season. Tonight, the Miners get their biggest test yet.
UTEP, sitting at 7-1 and riding a seven-match winning streak, travels to Fort Worth to take on No. 13 TCU at Schollmaier Arena. First serve is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time, with the match streaming on ESPN+.
For UTEP, this is more than another nonconference match. It is an opportunity to measure itself against a nationally ranked program before entering Mountain West play.
A Red-Hot Start
The Miners enter the matchup with plenty of momentum.
UTEP went undefeated at the Borderland Classic last weekend, sweeping I-10 rival New Mexico State before defeating Pacific and UC San Diego.
The Miners closed the tournament with a 3-1 victory over UC San Diego, hitting .336 as a team while holding the Tritons to a .216 hitting percentage.
Luvina Oguntimehin led the way with 14 kills and a .478 hitting percentage, while Daisy Voskuhl added 11 kills. Ema Uskokovic and freshman Mackenzi Davis each finished with 10 kills.
That performance continued what has been an impressive opening stretch for a program entering its first season in the Mountain West.
UTEP was picked to finish first in the conference’s preseason poll, receiving four first-place votes and 84 points.
Now the Miners get a chance to prove what they can do against one of the nation’s best.
TCU Brings a Major Challenge
TCU enters tonight’s matchup 6-2 and ranked No. 13 nationally.
The Horned Frogs are coming off a perfect weekend at the South Florida Invitational, where they defeated South Florida, Michigan and Dayton to extend their winning streak to four matches.
TCU has been particularly effective offensively.
The Horned Frogs are hitting .274 as a team and rank among the nation’s leaders in assists per set, kills per set and blocks per set.
One of the biggest players UTEP will have to account for is Becca Kelley.
Kelley enters the matchup ranked 16th nationally in both kills per set and points per set. She recorded 23 kills against Michigan last weekend after putting together 17 kills against South Florida.
Evan Hendrix is another major offensive threat for TCU. She is also among the nation’s leaders in kills and attacks per set.
UTEP’s Biggest Test: Can It Handle the Pressure?
The biggest question tonight may be how UTEP responds when the momentum shifts.
The Miners have already shown that they can win different types of matches.
They have swept opponents. They have won four-set matches. They have also shown they can survive five-set battles.
Against UC San Diego, UTEP dropped the third set after taking the first two but responded immediately, winning the fourth set 25-20 to close out the match.
That ability to adjust could be critical against TCU.
The Horned Frogs have the offensive firepower to put pressure on UTEP from the opening serve. The Miners will need to stay disciplined defensively while continuing to serve aggressively and maintain their efficiency at the net.
Players to Watch
Luvina Oguntimehin
Oguntimehin has established herself as one of UTEP’s primary offensive weapons.
She currently leads the Miners with 77 kills and 94.5 points through eight matches and is hitting .321 on the season.
Her ability to produce against TCU’s front line could be one of the deciding factors tonight.
Mackenzi Davis
The freshman has quickly become one of the most exciting players on the roster.
Davis already has 74 kills and 90 points this season and was named the Mountain West’s Old Trapper Women’s Volleyball Freshman of the Week earlier this month.
Her combination of offensive production and blocking ability gives UTEP another weapon TCU will have to prepare for.
Ema Uskokovic
Uskokovic brings experience to a team that is trying to establish itself on a bigger stage.
After missing the 2025 season because of injury, the graduate student returned to the court this season and was selected to the Mountain West Preseason Team.
Her leadership and experience could be especially important in a hostile road environment.
A Statement Opportunity
UTEP’s first eight matches have created plenty of excitement around the program.
Tonight provides a different kind of opportunity.
TCU is ranked No. 13, playing at home and coming off three straight wins against quality competition.
UTEP is 7-1, confident and carrying a seven-match winning streak into the matchup.
The Miners lead the all-time series 5-4, although TCU has won the last two meetings. The last matchup between the programs came in 2015.
The next step for UTEP is seeing whether the early-season success can translate against one of the nation’s ranked teams.
A win would give the Miners another major boost heading into Friday’s matchup with No. 18 Baylor.
But regardless of the result, tonight represents exactly the kind of challenge UTEP wanted when it built its 2026 schedule.
UTEP vs. No. 13 TCU.
5:30 p.m. Mountain Time.
ESPN+.
The Miners are rolling into Fort Worth with plenty of confidence. Now they get to see how they stack up against one of the country’s best.
