The UTEP volleyball program has accomplished so many things in the last four years of its golden age, but one big matter has eluded the Miners.

They can’t get over the hump to get a defining victory against an elite team. UTEP had that chance Thursday in the opener of the Sun City Classic against No. 24 UCLA in front of a capacity crowd (3,200), but the Bruins rose to the moment in a 25-18, 25-20, 25-20 victory.

UTEP led past the midpoint of the all three sets, but each time UCLA went on a run with big hits the Miners couldn’t answer. UTEP, which had dropped just two sets in its 6-0 start, dropped three in this one and fell to 6-1 with two more matches coming up in the next two days of its classic against Texas Southern and Oral Roberts.

UTEP made a spirited rally in the third set after

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