In a thrilling Saturday morning showdown at the Dugan Wellness Center in Corpus Christi, the UTEP women’s volleyball team secured its third consecutive Southwest Showdown championship. The Miners edged out the Texas–Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros 3-2, maintaining a flawless 9-0 record in the tournament’s history.

Match Highlights

The Miners posted 55 kills, eight service aces and 13 total blocks while holding the Vaqueros to a .182 hitting percentage. UTEP’s overall hitting percentage for the match was .206.

Set 1: UTRGV surged to a 3-0 lead, but UTEP rallied with a 6-0 run to lead 9-6. The Vaqueros recovered and closed the set 25-21, with Davis leading UTEP with six kills.

Set 2: After falling behind 11-9, UTEP fought back, using three consecutive UTRGV errors to erase a 19-16 deficit. A decisive 5-1 run, highlighted by a Davis kill and blocks from Hannah Crowe and Landry Braziel, gave UTEP a 25-23 win to even the match.

Set 3: The Miners turned a 14-11 hole into a 25-21 victory, propelled by three straight kills from Perry and a crucial block from Oguntimehin.

Set 4: UTRGV responded strongly, building an 11-4 lead. UTEP chipped away, eventually taking a 16-15 edge, but the Vaqueros rallied late to claim the set 25-20, forcing a decisive fifth.

Set 5: UTEP dominated the final frame, opening with a 5-2 lead, extending to 9-3, and closing out the championship 15-9. Uskokovic sparked the run with back‑to‑back kills, followed by contributions from Perry, Crowe and an ace from Crowe.

Looking Ahead

UTEP will return to action next weekend, hosting the Borderland Classic from September 10‑13.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.