Team first for Cason

   The UTEP Miners volleyball team is on a six-game win streak and junior outside hitter Jacqueline Cason is one of the big reasons the team sits at 4-1 in conference play.

“I think she’s physically very talented, she’s a strong kid, plays high above the net, and has the ability to take over matches for portions at the net,” head coach Ken Murphy said. “Her improvement has just come from understanding herself, and how to compete against the best teams, and do all the things she’s capable of doing at a higher level than in the past.”

The Miners currently hold a 10-7 record and Cason said teamwork and a Conference USA title is something they’ve been targeting all along.

“We just need to get better every day, and I feel that we can only get better,” Cason said. “If we get on that track there is nothing that can stop us.”

This is Cason’s third year at UTEP, where she’s majoring in mechanical engineering.

“After my playing days at UTEP are over, I’m going to stay around for another year to finish my degree,” Cason said. “I’m always going to be involved in the game. A teammate of mine and I coach a local team of 13-14 year-olds here in El Paso during the spring, so I stay pretty involved with the sport and the community.” Murphy said he’s very pleased with his team’s performance and Cason’s contributions on the court.

He also said he believes his team is headed in the right direction and all his players are making a positive contribution to have a successful season. Cason is one of those players that is stepping up to the plate and meeting the challenge.

Senior middle blocker Cassandra Burruel feels that Cason brings a lot to the table and makes a big impact on the court.

“She has a lot of energy on the court, she brings a lot of entertainment to the group, and it’s nice knowing that I can rely on her to set up a block or allowing me to set her up to get a kill,” Burruel said. “It’s fun and it’s comforting knowing that I can rely on her and the person next to me.”

The Miners are out of town for their next four games, their next home game will be against Houston at 7 p.m., Oct. 19 at Memorial Gym.

Herman Delgado may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.