El Paso hasn't traditionally been considered a destination for conference tournaments, but it's now home to the new and rapidly changing Conference USA.
Following hosting the Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, UTEP and El Paso will host the Volleyball Championships from November 22nd to 24th (Thursday-Sunday).
This will bring eight teams and an expedition team of 25 to 30 people to the city for five days.
The track and field meet, which concluded Sunday night, was the town's first league win since the track was installed here in 2017. El Paso has never held a conference volleyball tournament.
“Anytime we have the opportunity to host a conference as a university, we want to do our best,” said Athletic Director. “We look forward to having Conference USA members come out and experience a packed Memorial Gym.” Jim Center said.
“As Miners fans know, the Miners play really, really well when we pack Memorial Gym. We look forward to hosting the tournament.”
The last three games played at Memorial Gym, the last three rounds of the NIVC tournament last December, had an announced capacity of 3,200. UTEP ended up finishing as runner-up in the postseason tournament.
Volleyball coach Ben Wallis said UTEP began its search in 2021, so the bid to attract a tournament here has been several years in the making. The vote for the 2024 convention came down to New Mexico and UTEP, and Wallis said El Paso's airport was a factor.
Although UTEP (and NMSU) are geographically on the edge of the conference, UTEP is one of three of the league's 10 schools with a nearby commercial airport (the others being Florida International and Middle Tennessee and NMSU (45 minutes from the commercial airport).
“Traveling to El Paso and staying in El Paso is now much more affordable for everyone, and that's what makes these championships possible,” Wallace said. “Bringing people to El Paso will be much more affordable than other stops on our route. Everyone will have to fly a little farther, but it will be cheaper to get in and out. It's an affordable place.”
Wallace said several renovations will be made to Memorial, primarily in terms of improving locker room conditions for the eight-team tournament.
“We're at the stage now where we're making sure everything starts moving forward, like what happened this weekend in the track championship,” Wallis said. “Holding in the right way for the conference, making sure all the details are in place, all the volunteers are ready, and the city is ready to host the championship.” please.
“We're excited to invite people to Memorial to see if they can win a championship in their gym. We've shown we're capable. Now we have to win.'' Close with the next step. ”
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com. @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.
