SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State (2-0) opens its 2020 home schedule with a pair of matches against UT-El Paso (UTEP). The first match will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 11, and the final match of the weekend will be at 10 a.m. on Sept. 12 at Strahan Arena.
 
Friday's match will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be provided for both matches.
 
The Bobcats opened the season with a pair of victories at Stephen F. Austin, including a five-set win vs. Central Arkansas and a sweep over SFA. Sophomore outside hitter Caitlan Buettner led the team with 4.88 kills per set (.345) and recorded her first collegiate double-double by turning career-highs with 27 kills and 17 digs vs. UCA. She also had two aces. For her efforts, Buettner was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Junior outside Janell Fitzgerald hit .385 on opening weekend and averaged 3.62 kills per set. She also matched senior middle blocker Tyeranee Scott with four total blocks who also hit .314 behind 17 kills. Junior setter Emily DeWalt was selected as the Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Week after handing out 10.75 assists per set (86 total assists), highlighted by a career-high 57 assists vs. UCA. Other standouts from the weekend consists of sophomore middle blocker Tessa Marshall who led the team with 0.75 blocks per set and six total blocks, while hitting .333 with 12 total kills. Finally, junior libero Kayla Granado led the defense with 3.75 digs per set (30 total digs).
 
SCOUTING UTEP
The Miners will have its season opener at Strahan Arena after a 13-15 season in 2019, including a 6-8 mark in the Conference USA. Although UTEP made the conference tournament, they were bounced in the first round by Rice, 3-1, ending its season on a three-match losing streak. UTEP ranked No. 5 in aces (1.36 per set) and blocks (2.15 per set, 228 total), but was last in the league with 12.44 digs per set.
 
In 2020, UTEP will return 10 student-athletes, while welcoming eight newcomers.
 
The top returner for the Miners is senior outside hitter Cheyenne Jones who paced the team with 2.62 kills per set (259 total kills) and had a .242 hitting percentage. Jones also had 0.75 blocks per set (74 total blocks). Junior outside hitter Serena Patterson tallied 2.44 kills per set (259 total kills) and led the team with 24 aces. She also had 2.25 digs per set (238 total digs). Finally, senior middle blocker Mallory Yost rounds out the top returners for UTEP. Yost logged a .324 hitting percentage which ranked No. 8 in C-USA behind 198 total kills, and led the team with 0.85 blocks per set (90 total blocks).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Texas State leads the all-time series against UTEP 11-5 however, the Miners have won three of the last four meetings. The last match between the Bobcats and Miners was in Sept. 2006 where UTEP won a five-set thriller in El Paso, Texas. The Bobcats are 7-2 all-time vs. the Miners when playing in San Marcos with the last match in Strahan Coliseum resulting in a 3-2 win for TXST in Sept. 1996.  
 
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