Tag Archives: miners

UTEP senior running back Quardraiz Wadley has been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, it was announced by the PwC SMU Athletic Forum on Wednesday.

The Forum annually presents the award to the nation’s top college running back. Wadley is one of five Conference USA running backs named to the watch list along with Spencer Brown (UAB), Justin Henderson (LA Tech), Brenden Knox (Marshall) and Gaej Walker (WKU).

Wadley returns for the Miners in 2020 after sitting out the entire 2019 campaign due to an injury suffered prior to fall camp last season.

In 2018, he saw action in all 12 games and made 10 starts as a junior. The Kennedale, Texas, native led UTEP in rushing that year with 627 yards on 123 attempts and seven rushing touchdowns (8 total touchdowns).

Overall, Wadley has played in 26 games in his Miner career with 1,072 rushing yards on 228 carries. He has eight rushing touchdowns and averages 4.7 yards per carry (41.2 yards per game) in the Orange and Blue.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name ten semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee, will be announced in November. The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.

The recipient of the 2020 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.

The award is named for SMU’s three-time All-America running back Doak Walker. It is the only major collegiate award that requires all candidates to be in good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.

The Doak Walker Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org and @NCFAA on Twitter to learn more about the association.

The members of the NCFAA are unveiling their preseason watch lists over a 12-day period this month. Fourteen of the association’s 25 awards select a preseason watch list and the NCFAA has spearheaded a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates.

UTEP had three players selected to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Conference USA teams, the 2020 College Football Preview magazine announced on Monday.

Duron Lowe led the way after being selected as a third team kick returner and fourth team defensive back. Bobby DeHaro (OL) and Jacob Cowing also represented the Miners on the magazine’s fourth team.

Lowe earned All-Conference USA Honorable Mention accolades as a kick returner in 2019. He returned 11 kickoffs for 281 yards with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at North Texas. Lowe’s average of 25.5 yards per return led the team as he became just the fifth Miner in history to post a 100-yard kickoff return.

Defensively, Lowe started 11 games in the secondary in his first season as a Miner. He notched 25 tackles (20 solo) with the second-most pass breakups on the squad with six. Lowe also added a forced fumble during the 2019 season.

Cowing saw action in every game as a freshman for the Miners, while making seven starts during his rookie campaign. Cowing led UTEP in receiving yards (550), touchdown catches (3), yards per game (45.8) and yards per reception (17.7) as a true freshman.

Additionally, Cowing led all Conference USA freshmen and ranked No. 13 nationally among freshmen wide receivers with 550 yards. He came on strong late in the season with 441 receiving yards over the final six contests with an average of 73.5 yards per game.

Cowing also set a UTEP freshman record with 145 receiving yards against Charlotte and ranked 37th in the nation and seventh in C-USA in yards per reception. He at least one reception in all but one game a season ago.

DeHaro earned All-Conference USA Honorable Mention for the second consecutive season in 2019 after starting every game for the Miners at left guard. He helped pave the way for a UTEP rushing attack that averaged 138.2 yards per game. He also led an offensive line that guided the Miners to 18 rushing touchdowns on the season.

DeHaro was part of an offensive unit that ranked seventh nationally and first in Conference USA in fourth down percentage.

The Miners are scheduled to open the 2020 campaign at home against Texas Tech on Sept. 5. UTEP will also face NM State (Sept. 26), Southern Miss (Oct. 17), North Texas (Oct. 31), FIU (Nov. 7) and UAB (Nov. 21) in the Sun Bowl.

Season tickets for the 2020 UTEP Football season are on sale now and start as low as $65. Also available for purchase are the new premium seats in the Sun Bowl, which include outdoor club seats, loge boxes and indoor club seats.

For more information, visit the UTEP ticket page, call (915) 747-UTEP, or email tickets@utep.edu.

Since Amanda Labrado was a young girl, she has been passionate about rocks and the great outdoors.

When the time came to decide what she wanted to do in life, it was only natural that it would involve geological sciences.

“I collected rocks and loved the outdoors since I was a little kid, so when it came time to choose a major, geology simply made sense,” said Labrado, a doctoral candidate in The University of Texas at El Paso’s Department of Geological Sciences. “I remember taking my first intro geology class with Dr. Laura Serpa, and being in awe that I would study Earth and all its glory for my career. After I learned that field experiences were required to graduate, I was even more motivated to continue my education in the geosciences.”

Labrado recently was awarded the Diana Natalicio Dissertation Research Fellowship for 2020-21. Natalicio is President Emerita of UTEP. She led the campus as President from 1988 to 2019.

“When I first received the congratulatory email, I was very humbled and grateful,” she said. “Our University has many amazing women and men working toward completing their doctoral degrees, and I am so appreciative to be representing our University this year.”

Labrado is expected to complete her doctorate in May 2021. She received a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Geology from UTEP in December 2012 and an M.S. in Geosciences with a minor in Biogeochemistry from The Pennsylvania State University in May 2017.

“Amanda is a great role model for our UTEP community,” said Lin Ma, Ph.D., associate professor and graduate adviser for the Department of Geological Sciences. “The graduate committee in geological sciences is excited to nominate Amanda for her scholar achievements and her passions with science and education. Our department is so proud of having Amanda and many similarly great students who will make an impact on our society in many ways in the near future.”

The fellowship provides $10,000 to support a student for the last semester of dissertation work.

“Dr. Natalicio was UTEP’s first female president and helped shape UTEP into the amazing minority-serving, R1 research institution it is now,” Labrado said. “For me, it means being part of the legacy she left behind. I was able to shake her hand when I received my undergraduate degree, and although I will not be able to do so for my doctoral degree, I am so happy to graduate as a Natalicio fellow.”

Labrado is curious about the intersection between living and nonliving systems. Her dissertation will focus on how microbial life in the subsurface impacts carbonate caprock formation at the top of salt domes.

“After I graduate, my goal is to secure a postdoctoral position with NASA or a national lab,” she said. “I would like to conduct research and eventually work for an organization like the National Science Foundation to continue promoting diversity and inclusiveness in STEM fields.”

Labrado advises other doctoral students to know when to work, rest and look ahead.

“You may experience imposter syndrome, but know that you and your work are important,” she said. “Balance is required to complete the long and difficult journey, so learn how to take breaks without giving up. Lastly, minority women in STEM still need more representation, and as we stand on the shoulders of giants, we must continue the work to provide another set of shoulders for future generations to stand upon.”

Author: Victor R. Martinez – UTEP Communications

 A return to a more traditional format highlights the 18-game 2021 Conference USA schedule for the UTEP women’s basketball team, as announced Friday.

The Miners will have home-and-home match-ups with LA Tech, North Texas, Rice, Southern Miss and UTSA. UTEP will also square off once against Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, FIU, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion, UAB and WKU.

“The Conference USA schedule will boast a very intense and closely matched league play,” UTEP head coach Kevin Baker said. “I believe that CUSA is the strongest it has ever been, top to bottom, in my tenure here at UTEP. Each game will be an absolute battle with each team in our conference being so tightly matched. This will make for some absolutely entertaining  games. With only eight teams making the tournament this upcoming year, it will only heighten the energy and competitiveness of each contest. It is a  great year ahead!  Don’t miss the fireworks!”

UTEP is coming off its second winning season in three years under  Baker. The Miners finished 16-14 in 2019-20, capping the campaign with a 95-67 victory over Florida Atlantic in the opening round of the C-USA Championships.

UTEP set school conference tournament records for margin of victory (28), points (95) and three-pointers made (11) against the Owls, while tying the mark for field goals made (33), three-point percentage (50) and overall field-goal percentage (55). The effort advanced the Orange and Blue to the C-USA Tourney quarterfinals for the third consecutive year under Baker, continuing the longest such streak to start a career at the school. The tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, ending UTEP’s aspirations for a postseason bid.

Conference play commences in the “Sunshine State,” with the Miners opening at Florida Atlantic (Dec. 31) and then at FIU (Jan. 2). UTEP will also play at Rice (Jan. 14), at North Texas (Jan. 16), at Old Dominion (Jan. 28), at Charlotte (Jan. 30), at LA Tech (Feb. 18), at Southern Miss (Feb. 20) and at UTSA (March 6).

The Orange and Blue welcome Southern Miss to the Don Haskins Center for their league home opener on Jan. 7. Other C-USA home contests include LA Tech (Jan. 9), Middle Tennessee (Jan. 23), Marshall (Feb. 4), WKU (Feb. 6), UTSA (Feb. 13) and defending C-USA regular-season champion Rice (Feb. 27).

The 2021 C-USA Tournament is slated from March 10-13 at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Game times, and streaming/television coverage will be announced at a later date, in addition to the nonconference component of the schedule.

Season ticket renewals for the 2020-21 season are available, while fans may also request season tickets. Current season ticket holders can renew their seats by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing at tickets@utep.edu, or visiting the ticket website.

Fans who did not have season tickets last year but are interested in signing up for the upcoming season can visit the UTEP Athletics ticket webpage to fill out an electronic request form. They start as low as $65 for adults and $40 for youth (ages 3-12). Fans can also purchase reserved Floor seating for $125.

For complete coverage of UTEP women’s basketball, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPWBB (Twitter), @utepwbb (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics.

Conference USA men’s hoops has returned to traditional league play, as the 2020-21 UTEP men’s basketball 18-game conference schedule was released Thursday.

The league slate will feature five home-and-home series after moving away from Bonus Play. UTEP will take on conference foes LA Tech, North Texas, Rice, Southern Miss and UTSA twice, and will play single contests against Florida Atlantic, FIU, Old Dominion, Charlotte, UAB, Middle Tennessee, Marshall and WKU.

UTEP will open league action in the Haskins Center on Dec. 30 against FAU and Jan. 2 versus FIU. The Miners will also host Rice (Jan. 14), North Texas (Jan. 16), Old Dominion (Jan. 28), Charlotte (Jan. 30), LA Tech (Feb. 18), Southern Miss (Feb. 20), and will conclude the regular season during their senior game against UTSA on March 6.

The first road games will be at Southern Miss (Jan. 7) and LA Tech (Jan. 9). The Orange and Blue will take to the road at UAB (Jan. 21), at MT (Jan. 23), at Marshall (Feb. 4), at WKU (Feb. 6), at UTSA (Feb. 13), at North Texas (Feb. 25), and at Rice (Feb. 27).

The 2021 C-USA Tournament will be held March 10-13 at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Game times, and streaming/television coverage will be announced at a later date. The nonconference portion of the schedule is still being finalized.

Season ticket renewals for the 2020-21 season are available, while fans may also request season tickets. Current season ticket holders can renew their seats by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing at tickets@utep.edu, or visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets.

Individuals who did not have season tickets last year but are interested in signing up for the upcoming season can visit the UTEP Athletics ticket webpage to fill out an electronic request form.

The 2020 UTEP soccer home schedule was released on Wednesday, which includes an abbreviated C-USA slate and a match-up against Pacific-12 foe Arizona State.

For the first time, fans are able to purchase season tickets to guarantee they will be there to cheer on second-year head coach Kathryn Balogun’s charges.

“With everything going on in our country we are excited to announce our home schedule for the 2020 season,” Balogun said. “This season brings with it some significant and unprecedented changes, but we are excited to host so many home games amidst the travel challenges our country is facing.”

Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, or online. Tickets are just $45 for adults and $25 for youth and gain entry to all seven home matches.

All seats are general admission. Single-match ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 3-12). Fans can save 20 percent off the single-match adult prices and 29 percent off the single-match youth prices by purchasing a season ticket.

The home slate commences against Incarnate Word (Aug. 28). Division II Lubbock Christian (Sept. 3), Pac-12 power Arizona State (Sept. 6) and Utah Valley University (Sept. 17) are also on the docket for nonconference home contests. It will mark the first regular-season match-up with ASU since 1997, and the initial time that the Sun Devils will visit El Paso.

“We are also excited to host Arizona State in nonconference play as we prepare for the start of conference play with LA Tech,” Balogun said. “We will wrap up our home matches with senior night against North Texas, who sent us home from the conference tournament last year. It will be a great game! We are excited to build on what we started last year and excited to see our fans as that becomes an opportunity.”

With a shortened C-USA slate due to COVID-19, the Miners will have three league home games. LA Tech (Sept. 20) is up first, with UAB (Oct. 4) and North Texas (Oct. 23) also venturing to the Sun City.

UTEP will return 21 players from last year’s squad (10-7-3, 5-4-1 C-USA), including eight starters. It was the first double-digit win total at the school in three years, and the Miners qualified for the league championships for the first time since 2016.

The Orange and Blue also forged a mark of 6-3-2 at home.

For complete coverage of UTEP soccer, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPSoccer (Twitter),@UTEPMinersSoccer (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics.

UTEP Athletics launched a revamped Miners Kids Club presented by GECU to give young Miner fans an opportunity to get involved, the department announced on Monday.

“We are so excited to launch the new and improved Miners Kids Club program,” Daniel Veale, UTEP Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing, said. “Having experience in revamping a youth fan club, we plan to take this unique opportunity for kids to the next level. We are so thankful for the new partnership with GECU to make this an elite program for our youngest fans to connect with Miner sports.”

Benefits include exclusive game day activities, official UTEP gear and ID cards and invites to GECU financial education activities and events.

The Miners Kids Club is open to kids aged 12 years old and under with a one-time $25 fee for a lifetime membership until the child is aged out of the program.

There will also be special incentives and discounts for current GECU families and existing members.

“We are delighted to continue collaborating and strengthening our relationship with UTEP through the Miners Kids Club presented by GECU. This unique collaboration will provide a fun experience for children in our community as well as help them grow financially. We are looking forward to how this program will engage kids in the community with fun financial literacy activities,” said President and CEO of GECU Crystal Long.

UTEP officials add that additional perks include a Kids Club ID card with lanyard, official Kids Club T-shirt, exclusive grand prize giveaways, contests and special GECU learning opportunities.

To register for the new and improved Miners Kids Club program, visit Kids Club website or email kidsclub@utep.edu.

For complete coverage of UTEP Athletics, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPAthletics (Twitter/Instagram) or visit the official home of the Miners.

In this week’s installment of the “Picks Up Podcast,” UTEP radio play-by-play man Jon Teicher visits with native El Pasoan and former Miner football standout Robert Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, who played linebacker at UTEP from 2001-04 and tallied 443 tackles in the Orange and Blue, later enjoyed stints in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans.

He returned to UTEP as an assistant coach, then joined the Minnesota Vikings staff prior to his current assignment as defensive line coach at Arizona State.

Rodriguez went to Montwood High School and lettered in both football and basketball. He was a standout running back for the Rams and was named the El Paso Times Offensive Player of the Year, as well as All City first team for the 1999 season.

The weekly “Picks Up Podcast” takes an inside look at UTEP Athletics, offering perspectives and analysis not available anywhere else, with special guests including Miner coaches, staff, student-athletes and alumni.

UTEP Athletics will be implementing a clear bag policy for all six 2020 football home games, and continuing throughout the 2020-21 athletic year including men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball.

The new policy is designed to expedite entry, increase safety and limit the physical contact associated with traditional bag searches.

The policy will also help to enforce social distancing protocols at security checkpoints.

Ticket holders, including children, will be allowed to enter with bags provided they meet one of these specifications:

• Bags (including clear backpacks) that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bag approximately the size of a hand (4.5″ x 6.5″ or smaller), with or without a handle or strap. This can be carried separately or within a plastic bag
• Medical bags that contain health necessary items are acceptable after proper inspection and approval from venue personnel/security

Fans are encouraged to only bring necessary items into UTEP Athletics venues.

The following items are prohibited and cannot be taken into the venue.  These items would either need to be disposed of, or returned to the fan’s car or residence before entering the venue:

• Aerosol cans
• Animals (service dogs or service dogs in training permitted)
• Artificial noisemakers
• Balloons
• Bats, poles and sticks
• Car seats and baby strollers
• Coolers/ice chests
• Camera lenses larger than 4″
• E-cigarettes
• Firearms and fireworks
• Flags on poles
• Glass bottles
• Illegal drugs
• Laser pointers
• Lawn chairs
• Missile-like objects
• Objects that can be used as projectiles (i.e. balls)
• Outside food and beverages including alcohol (exceptions will be made for those with medical requirements and/or special needs)
• Scooters, strollers, bicycles, roller skates and skateboards
• Tobacco products
• Tripods, monopods and selfie sticks
• Umbrellas
• Unauthorized video cameras and drones
• Water bottles (one sealed, plastic water bottle permitted per patron)
• Weapons
• Any object that might pose a risk to the guest or others.

CLEAR BAG POLICY FAQ

Why is UTEP Athletics implementing this policy?

UTEP Athletics regularly evaluates existing policies, practices, and procedures to determine its level of compliance with industry recognized best practices.  We determined that a revision of the policy was necessary in order to continue providing our fans the safest and most enjoyable experience.  World events continue to shape the methods utilized for venue security within UTEP Athletics and the Event Management industry.

How is the new policy more convenient for fans?

The clear bags will enable security to move fans through checkpoints much faster than in the past.  A standard size bag eliminates the need for bag templates to check bag sizes.  Clear bags allow staff to be more efficient and effective in keeping you safe by preventing dangerous items from entering the venue.

How does the new policy improve public safety?

The clear bag is easily and quickly searched and greatly reduces faulty bag searches.

How many bags can a person bring into the venue?

Each ticketed guest is permitted to bring one large clear bag, either the 12″ x 6″ x 12″ clear bag or a one-gallon Ziploc-style bag, plus a small clutch purse (5″ x 7″).  The small clutch allows privacy for small personal items and can be easily searched.

What about diaper bags?

Everything that you would put into a diaper bag must now be carried in a clear bag.  Each member of a family, including children, is allowed to carry an approved clear bag and a clutch purse into the venue.

Can seat cushions be carried into the venue?

Seat cushions and chair backs are permissible.  Seat cushions must be 16″ in width or less.

Can fans bring blankets during cold weather?

Yes, they may bring blankets into the venue by carrying them over a shoulder or arm. These items can be screened easily.

What happens if I show up at the gate with a bag that is not permitted?

Guests carrying bags that do not meet specifications will be asked to return them to their vehicles.

Fans parking in remote lots and/or taking alternate forms of transportation to UTEP Athletics facilities should consult UTEP Game Day policies and procedures prior to arrival in order to minimize inconveniences.

If I have items that I need to bring into the venue for medical purposes and they won’t fit in the clear bag, what do I do?

Exceptions will be made for fans with approved medical needs.  Medically necessary bags or equipment brought into a venue will be inspected and tagged by security.

For questions about medical equipment or other needs, please call the UTEP Special Events Office at (915) 747-5481.

Do I have to put everything I’m carrying into the permissible bags?

No. Limitations have been placed on the type of bags carried into the venue, not the items that are permissible. Guest can continue to carry items such as keys, makeup, women’s products, combs, phones, wallets, credit cards, cameras, binoculars, etc., in their hands or pockets if they choose not to place them in a clear bag or clutch purse (5″ x 7″). Guests can carry a blanket over their shoulders, and binoculars and/or cameras around their necks or in their hands without the case.  Guests can also carry any personal items that meet the specified criteria in the clear bag or clutch purse.

Will clear bags with patterns or oversized logos be permitted?

No.  These types of bags are prohibited as they can jeopardize the screening process by not allowing security staff to view through and inside of the bag.

NOTE: Other Conference USA institutions who have established a Clear Bag Policy include Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Old Dominion, Southern Miss, UAB, UTSA and WKU.  UTEP Athletics recommends that fans traveling to other venues consult the host school’s game day policies and procedures.

UTEP volleyball sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Alianza Darley is the guest on this week’s “Picks Up Podcast” with “Voice of the Miners” Jon Teicher.

As a freshman last year, Darley payed in 90 sets and 24 matches, while making 10 starts.  She posted the fifth-most kills (132) on the team and led all Miner freshmen in kills.

Darley ranked fourth on the squad in blocks (54.0), turned in three double-digit kill performances and locked in a career-high 12 kills against No. 21 Rice during the first round of the C-USA Tournament.

She has also been named to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll for 2020 and earned the  Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal.

Earlier this week, the 2020 UTEP Volleyball home schedule was released and, for the first time, fans can purchase season tickets to ensure that they’ll be there for every exciting moment as the Miners take the floor.

The “Picks Up Podcast,” that airs weekly online, takes an inside look at UTEP Athletics, offering perspectives and analysis not available anywhere else.  Special guests including Miner coaches, staff, student-athletes and alumni.

To go directly to the podcast landing page, click here.

Tuesday morning, UTEP officials released the 2020 Miner Volleyball home schedule and, for the first time, fans can purchase season tickets.

“I’m really excited about our 2020 home slate of matches,” Wallis said.  “We inherited a road-heavy schedule in our first season last year but we performed very well at home, securing top-100 wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Marshall and North Texas.  Our roster is much deeper and more athletic this year and I think we have what it takes, with our returning talent and eight new players, to be a force in Conference USA this season.”

UTEP will launch its home slate with its own I-10 Challenge Aug. 28-29 in El Paso.  The Miners will host Tulane, Incarnate Word and New Mexico in the two-day event at the Don Haskins Center.

“We’re really excited to wrap up the four-year I-10 rivalry tournament here in El Paso at the Don Haskins Center opening weekend,” Wallis said.  “We were able to add New Mexico to the field, which is something that (Lobos coach) Jon Newman-Gonchar and I have been pretty adamant about since he got hired last year as well.  We want that I-25 rivalry renewed each season.”

The remainder of the Miners’ home matches will be played at historic Memorial Gym.  The following weekend (Sept. 4-6), UTEP will serve as co-host of the Borderland Invitational with NM State.  The Miners will face off against UT Arlington, Abilene Christian and the arch-rival Aggies.

The Miners will kick off their Conference USA slate on Saturday, Sept. 26 when they host UTSA.  It will mark the first of three straight C-USA home matches with North Texas (Oct. 2) and Rice (Oct. 4) scheduled to come to El Paso the following weekend.

The Miners will return home to host Old Dominion (Oct. 16) and Charlotte (Oct. 18) in a weekend set sandwiched between a pair of road series.

UTEP’s conference home schedule will wrap up the last weekend of October as the Miners will host Florida Atlantic (Oct. 30) and FIU (Nov. 1).

“What I really like about our conference schedule is that we have several of the top teams at home, including UTSA, North Texas and Rice right off the bat,” Wallis said.  “Conference USA is a top-10 volleyball conference so everybody will be tough to beat, but we’re excited to have several of the top teams playing here in El Paso and having to deal with our rowdy fans.  We finished third in the conference in attendance last year and I’m hoping we can get in the top-two this season, especially with our great slate of matches!”

The Miners’ home slate will come to a close on Nov. 24 when they play host to NM State for a second time on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Wallis and company put together the best turnaround by a first-year staff in program history a year ago, as the Miners went from five wins in 2018 to 13 victories in 2019.

Additionally, the Miners advanced to the C-USA Championships for the first time in three seasons, and had their highest finish in the conference standings since the 2012 campaign.

Wallis and the Miners also registered a 6-3 mark in Memorial Gym, their first winning mark in the Sun City in six years.

Wallis and the Miners will enter the 2020 campaign with a more experienced roster.  UTEP returns 12 players who saw action a season ago, including standouts Cheyenne Jones, Irbe Lazda and Serena Patterson.  Jones was a second team All-Conference USA performer last season, and Lazda was one of the top freshmen in the conference prior to sustaining a season-ending injury.

The full 2020 UTEP volleyball schedule will be announced on a later date.

Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu, or by going online.

Tickets are just $60 for adults and $35 for youth and gain entry to all 14 home matches.

All seats are general admission.  Single-match ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 3-12).  Fans can save 46 percent off the single-match adult prices and 50 percent off the single-match youth prices by purchasing a season ticket.

For complete coverage of UTEP Volleyball, follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPVB (Instagram) and @UTEP_VB (Twitter), or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics.

2020 UTEP Volleyball Home Schedule

Date                Opponent                                Location                                  Time

Aug. 28            TULANE ^                                Don Haskins Center                10 a.m.

                        INCARNATE WORD ^              Don Haskins Center                4:30 p.m.

Aug. 29            NEW MEXICO ^                       Don Haskins Center                3 p.m.

Sept. 4             UT ARLINGTON#                     Memorial Gym                        10 a.m.

                        ABILENE CHRISTIAN#             Memorial Gym                        5 p.m.

Sept. 6             NM STATE#                             Memorial Gym                        3 p.m.

Sept. 26           UTSA*                                     Memorial Gym                        1 p.m.

Oct. 2              NORTH TEXAS*                       Memorial Gym                        6 p.m.

Oct. 4              RICE*                                       Memorial Gym                        12 p.m.

Oct. 16            OLD DOMINION*                    Memorial Gym                        6 p.m.

Oct. 18            CHARLOTTE*                          Memorial Gym                        12 p.m.

Oct. 30            FLORIDA ATLANTIC*               Memorial Gym                        6 p.m.

Nov. 1              FIU*                                        Memorial Gym                        12 p.m.

Nov. 24            NM STATE                               Memorial Gym                        1 p.m.

All times MT

* Indicates C-USA match

^ I-10 Challenge

# Borderland Invitational

UTEP soccer senior midfielder/defender Nicole Pugsley is the guest on this week’s “Picks Up Podcast” with “Voice of the Miners” Jon Teicher.

For the 2019 season, Pugsley was one of two Miners to start all 20 matches on the season.  She also helped UTEP record seven shutouts while limiting six other opponents to only one goal.

The seven shutouts tied for sixth on the program’s single-season list.

On the academic side, Pugsley was named a C-USA Commissioners’s Academic Medalist (2018, 2019, 2020) and was on the C-USA Commissioners’s Honor Roll (2018, 2019, 2020)

The “Picks Up Podcast,” which airs weekly on the UTEP Miner Website, takes an inside look at UTEP Athletics, offering perspectives and analysis not available anywhere else.

The “Picks Up Podcast” features special guests including Miner coaches, staff, student-athletes and alumni.

To go directly to the podcast landing page, please click here.

UTEP’s Oskar Ambrosius was named to the 2020 Conference USA Men’s Golf All-Conference Team, it was announced by the league office on Thursday.

Ambrosius garnered second team accolades for his performance in 2019-20, marking the seventh straight year a Miner golfer has been voted to the all-conference team.

Ambrosius competed in all seven tournaments for UTEP during the 2019-20 season and registered a 72.0 stroke average in 21 rounds to lead the Miners. He was UTEP’s top finisher in four of the seven events he played, including finishing in the top 10 on four separate occasions.

He finished the shortened spring season ranked 14th in Conference USA according to Golfstat.

On September 19, he was named Conference USA Co-Golfer of the Week after taking home the title at the CSU Ram Masters Invitational with a career-low three-round total of 201 (-9), including a career-low round of 65.

Additionally, Ambrosius finished in fourth place in the first event of the fall season at the Gene Miranda Invitational after shooting 6-under par (74-68-68—210).

He also tied for ninth at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate after firing a 2-under par, while he tied for fourth at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate after shooting 1-under par to close out the fall.

For complete coverage of UTEP Men’s Golf,  follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPminergolf (Twitter) and @UTEPMensGolf (Instagram) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics.

2020 C-USA MEN’S GOLF ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

All-Conference USA First Team

John Gough, Charlotte

Mac Murphy, Louisiana Tech

Jake Benson, Rice

William Walker III, UAB

Murray Naysmith, UAB

All-Conference USA Second Team

Marc Boucher, Charlotte

Tanner Owens, Middle Tennessee

Gustav Fransson, Old Dominion

Oskar Ambrosius, UTEP

Linus Lo, WKU

All-Conference USA Third Team

Alex Maguire, Florida Atlantic

Viktor Forslund, North Texas

Ben Reichert, UAB

Khavish Varadan, UAB

Christian Fanfelle, UTSA

Conference USA All-Freshman Team

Dongjin Park, Charlotte

Alex Maguire, Florida Atlantic

Robbie Latter, Southern Miss

Thongpipat Rattanayanon, Southern Miss

Khavish Varadan, UAB

C-USA Player of the Year

John Gough, Charlotte

C-USA Freshman of the Year

Khavish Varadan, UAB

C-USA Coach of the Year

Mike Wilson, UAB

Standout defender for the New Mexico Rush and the Colorado Rush Academy, Ashley Padilla has signed a national letter of intent to attend UTEP and play with the Miner soccer program beginning with the 2020 fall season.

UTEP head coach Kathryn Balogun announced the signing of the multi-talented player on Wednesday.

“We are excited to add Ashley to our team for 2020. Ashley comes to us from New Mexico Rush and Colorado Rush Academy,” UTEP assistant coach/recruiting coordinator Stewart Givens said. “She led her team as a tough defender who can play in a few different positions along the back line, but also adds in to the attack by getting forward and contributing with goals and assists.”

“Ashley has deep family ties to El Paso and UTEP. Ashley was born in El Paso and her parents attended UTEP.  We are really looking forward to welcoming her back home,” Givens added.

Padilla also is a proven offensive threat, contributing 14 goals and 18 assists during her playing time New Mexico. She has played in numerous high-profile events, including the DA Showcase, Regionals, Surf Cup, Vega’s Cup Tournament, PDT and State Cup Tournaments.

For complete coverage of UTEP soccer, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPSoccer (Twitter),@UTEPMinersSoccer (Instagram) and on Facebook or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

UTEP women’s golfer Valeria Mendizabal earned First Team All-Conference USA honors, it was announced by the league office on Wednesday.

Mendizabal represented the Miners as one of five student-athletes to be named to the first team after competing in all seven tournaments for UTEP in 2019-20. She is the first Miner to earn first team accolades since Camino Sardinero in 2015.

This past season, Mendizabal ranked first in Conference USA after compiling a career-best 71.6 stroke average in 20 rounds, which also ranked first on the team. She was UTEP’s top finisher six out of seven times, including two first-place finishes on the year. She finished in the top 10 in every tournament during the fall and once during the spring before the season was cut short.

The junior also earned C-USA Golfer of the Week honors three times during the season.

Mendizabal never shot worse than 75 in a single round throughout the course of the year and she became the first Miner to win multiple tournaments in a season since the 2006-07 campaign.

The junior shot a career-low 65 in the second round of the Little Rock Classic to help clinch first place individually after shooting 8-under par with a score of 208 (71-65-72). Her second-round 65 fired in Little Rock marked the best in the event’s history and broke UTEP’s single-round scoring record.

Her total of 208 at the Little Rock Classic was also the second-lowest individual scorecard in tournament history

Mendizabal also brought home first place in the 2019 fall opener after shooting 1-under par with a 212 (69-75-68) at the MSU/Payne Stewart Memorial.

For complete coverage of UTEP Women’s Golf, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPwgolf (Twitter) and @UTEPwomensgolf (Instagram) or click here to visit the official home of UTEP Athletics.

2020 C-USA WOMEN’S GOLF ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

All-Conference USA First Team (5)

Ashley Fowler, Charlotte

Siarra Stout, Charlotte

Lauren Cox, North Texas

Jana Melichova, Old Dominion

Valeria Mendizabal, UTEP

All-Conference USA Second Team (5)

Cecilie Finne-Ipsen, Charlotte

Justine Fournand, Florida Atlantic

Audrey Tan, North Texas

Leah Onosato, Old Dominion

Tia Teiniketo, UAB

All-Conference USA Third Team (6)

Jillian Farrell, Charlotte

Ellinor Sudow, Charlotte

Sophie Burks, Middle Tennessee

Patricia Sinolungan, North Texas

Friend Chompitakdacha, Southern Miss

Ana Gonzalez, UTSA

Women’s Golfer of the Year

Ashley Fowler, Charlotte

Freshman of the Year

Justine Fournand, Florida Atlantic

Most Improved Golfer of the Year

Tia Teiniketo, UAB

Coach of the Year

Holly Clark, Charlotte