The Miner Rundown; Football wins season opener

The Miner Rundown with Zay Galindo keeps you updated with UTEP athletics every week.

Another busy week for UTEP athletics means it’s time for the Miner Rundown to catch you up on all the action in football, soccer, and volleyball.

Football Rolls Past UT Martin for First Victory

UTEP football claimed their first win of the 2025 season, defeating UT Martin 42-17 in front of over 31,000 fans at the Sun Bowl, marking their first home opener victory since 2023.

The Miners set the tone early when CB Neil Campbell, who was graded the third-best corner in the nation by PFF last week, recorded a strip sack on Skyhawks QB Jase Bauer. LB Jalen Rudolph recovered the fumble, giving UTEP’s offense prime field position near the red zone. Four plays later, RB Ashten Emory scored the first of his three touchdowns to put UTEP up 7-0.

Coming out of a 40-minute lightning delay that briefly interrupted play, UT Martin forced a UTEP turnover that led to a Skyhawks touchdown to tie the game 7-7. That was as close as the Skyhawks would get, as UTEP erupted for 21 unanswered points, sparked by a 48-yard touchdown pass from QB Malachi Nelson to WR Toric Goins Jr.

Running backs Emory and Hahsaun Wilson added to the scoring, with Wilson breaking a school-record 94-yard touchdown run, set up by a goal-line stand from the UTEP defense, pushing the lead to 28-7. The Miners sealed the game in the second half with a couple more scores, securing their first double-digit win since defeating FIU on the road in 2023.

UTEP had a couple of standout performers, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. LB Micah Davey had a team high 14 tackles in his second game as a Miner, and didn't miss a single tackle according to PFF.

Offensively, UTEP racked up 472 yards, the most under head coach Scotty Walden. Nelson went 14-of-26 for 278 yards and four touchdowns in his Sun Bowl debut, while WRs Kenny Odom and Toric Goins Jr. each surpassed 100 receiving yards, a bright spot with All-Conference MB Kam Thomas mssing Saturday's game. Thomas’ return date remains unclear.

UTEP now prepares for an in-state showdown against #5 Texas in Austin, the first of four matchups between the programs over the next ten years.

Soccer Splits Idaho Road Trip, Upsets Mountain West Champs

UTEP soccer (3-4-1) hit the road for their second trip of the season, splitting a pair of matches in Idaho. They fell 1-0 to Idaho in the Kibbie Dome, where Calli Chiarelli’s ninth-minute goal proved decisive. Despite a strong defensive effort, UTEP’s three shots on goal weren’t enough to beat the Vandals.

The Miners traveled south down the 'Gem State' where they rebounded with an upset victory over defending Mountain West champions Boise State. True freshman goalkeeper Savannah Finley delivered a clean sheet with five saves, while Eve Barry’s goal in the second minute secured a 1-0 win, UTEP’s first road victory of the season.

Finley’s stellar week—only allowing one goal and making eight saves across both games—earned her the CUSA Goalkeeper of the Week award, the first for a Miner since 2022 and the first for a UTEP freshman goalkeeper since 2013.

Volleyball Wins Southwest Showdown, Gears Up for UCLA

As the local social media account “Fit-Fam” might say, “In news that surprises nobody,” UTEP volleyball won their second straight Southwest Showdown, going 3-0 in the Rio Grande Valley against mid-major powerhouses UTRGV, Texas State, and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The Miners opened with a 3-0 sweep over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, a 2024 NCAA Tournament team, led by MB Kaya Weaver and OH Torrance Lovesee. They followed with another sweep against host UTRGV, where Weaver starred with 12 kills and 15 points.

Head coach Ben Wallis then led his squad to another sweep, this time against the host team, UTRGV. Kaya Weaver once again starred in the match, putting up 12 kills and and 15 points to lead the team.

The tournament concluded with a matchup against Texas State, last year’s Sun Belt champions and NCAA Tournament participants. UTEP took the first set 25-16, but Texas State evened the match with a 25-20 win in set two. Lovesee and fellow hitter Landry Braziel then took over, combining for double-digit kills to lead UTEP to back-to-back set wins and the match victory.

Weaver and Braziel earned All-Tournament Team honors, while setter Kalia Kohler was named CUSA Setter of the Week for the second time this season.

UTEP now faces #24 UCLA in the “Sun City Showdown” at Memorial Gym on Thursday, where they are expecting a near-sellout crowd. The Miners will also take on Oral Roberts and Texas Southern over the weekend.