UTEP volleyball aims for big season: Five players to watch

As the UTEP volleyball team begins a season of high expectations, it's worth looking back on how close the Miners came to achieving all their goals last year.

Ultimately the 17-13 season wasn't what UTEP hoped for, but inside that record was a string of close, five-set losses that could have added up to so much more. Much of this year's team lived through that and left hungrier for it.

More: UTEP volleyball schedule

"We were 21 points away from being a 24-win team," coach Ben Wallis said. "Unfortunately we were a 17-win team. You lose seven five-set matches by a total of 21 points, it bothers you. It sets you on a path where you can feel sorry for yourself, or get back in the gym in the spring and in the classroom in the spring, and you get better at those things that cost you 21 points.

"We were a good volleyball team last year, we weren't great. I think we're a good volleyball team right now and I'm hopeful our staff and our players built a better chemistry with our culture so that we become a great team by the middle of November."

"Culture" is the buzzword with this veteran team, which mixes in nine newcomers with 10 returners.

"In the spring we worked on our culture, how we could build a championship mindset," said senior Alyssa Sianez, an El Paso High graduate. "Now that all these girls are coming in with the mindset we're trying to build, it's going to be a fun year to watch."

Said graduate senior Alianza Darley: "It's still early but I feel like our main focus is the culture part of it. We worked super hard in the spring to develop a really strong team foundation. I feel like that's going to show this year. It showed last year as one thing we lacked. This year's it's something we've been able to fix and improve."

UTEP opens with a scrimmage at home Saturday against Grand Canyon, then travels to a tournament at Southeast Louisiana, where it will begin its season on Aug. 25 against a Washington team that Wallis said he feels will be ranked in the top 25.

Here are some players to watch.

Torrance Lovesee, sophomore outside hitter

Her freshman season was a revelation as she made second-team All-Conference USA while leading UTEP in kills with 295. She was a three-time league player of the week.

"If we can keep Torrance Lovesee healthy I think she could be a potential player-of-the-year candidate for us," Wallis said. "She's a big time point scorer and she's still learning a lot about the game of volleyball, the nuances and how the whole volleyball game works.

"But she's an elite scorer and scoring is the name of the game in this sport."

Alianza Darley, senior outside hitter/middle blocker

Darley was also a second-team All-Conference USA selection last year after leading the Miners in blocks (126). That total was third in C-USA.

"We bring a lot of energy," Darley said. "The gym feels so much different. In past years we had the same type of energy, but I feel like everyone wants to work hard, wants to hustle, we're making a lot of plays. The atmosphere and energy in the gym is unreal."

Sakira LaCour, senior outside hitter/middle blocker

The big get of UTEP's recruiting class, LaCour was the star player for Oral Roberts last season. The 6-footer from Albuquerque was fourth in the Summit League in blocks with 126 and added 238 kills.

"I'm old, a fifth year, but I'm also coming to a new school," LaCour said. "I'm old but I'm new, that's an adjustment. There's a lot of learning but I'm really enjoying myself.

"I've previously played four years of middle blocker, now I'm transitioning to the right side but also getting reps in the middle. Having some prior Division I experience is helping me bring what I know into this program so we can keep that winning culture.

"I see a historic season for us. I see conference champions, I think we can go all the way."

Alyssa Sianez, senior libero

She'll be back as a full-time starter as a senior, a role she had in 2021 when she had 512 digs. Along the way, the former walk-on Sianez has become a leader for this team.

"I used to be the person, I'd look up to people," Sianez said. "Now that people are looking up to me … it's a different feeling but I like it.

"Step up. There's a lot of times I have to talk to my hitters, talk to other girls that may be struggling. Communicate more with my teammates to help them out."

Sara Pustahija, sophomore outside hitter

The Serbian made C-USA's all-freshman team last year and was a four-time freshman of the week. Pustahija led UTEP with 55 service aces, was second in digs and third in kills as she did a little bit of everything for the Miners.

She also played beach volleyball for the Miners.

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP volleyball aims for big season: Five players to watch