Cowgirls sophomores learning and leading

From left, Cowgirl sophomores Dani Bedore, Lauren Whitney, Jenna Arneson and JennaRae Jester.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

The past two weeks have been a time for the shorthanded Wyoming volleyball team to rest with just one match a week. This season been a time for the young Cowgirls to learn.

Their record might not show it (3-15 overall, 2-7 in league play), but head coach Carrie Yerty said certain situations have been a blessing in disguise.

“After we lost to CSU (last Friday), I didn’t have anything bad to say to my team,” Yerty said. “My job is to continue help them develop and continue to turn this program around. Their job is to give me everything they have and they have every day this year.”

The Cowgirls will look to get back on track Thursday night when they host Air Force at 7 p.m. in the UniWyo Sports Complex.

With just three seniors on the team, sophomores Jenna Arneson, Lauren Whitney, Dani Bedore and JennaRae Jester have not only been thrown into the fire, but have also been counted on to provide leadership while developing.

“Jenna Arneson, who has been an outside hitter for this program and who now plays middle for us for the majority of this year, has become more versatile,” Yerty said. “She is a six-rotation player who can hit in any front-row position. Lauren Whitney has developed actual shots and repertoire, as to just jumping high and hitting hard. She is really gaining a lot of confidence in her ability to be a finesse player.”

Bedore continues to lead the team offensively at 3.02 kills a game, which is ninth in the MWC, and 1.57 digs per set. Whitney has had a solid season at 2.79 kills and almost one dig per set, followed by Arneson at 2.27 kills a game and Jester at 1.91 kills per contest.

“This conference is going to see a lot of Dani Bedore in the next few years,” Yerty added. “Even with our team so up and down and struggling, she has been a mainstay for us. She is in the top six or eight in a lot of conference categories all year long.

“For JennaRae Jester, this year of playing has been a tremendous confidence builder. It has provided her with a different vision of competitive Division I athletics. She will be an asset for us when she gets bigger, stronger and faster.”

With the rest also comes added practice time and learning. For the third time this season, the Cowgirls have had just one match a week. Last week their lone outing was at home against CSU.

“It’s different from what I have been used to. I can’t remember the last time prior to this year that we have had one match per week three different times in one season,” Yerty said. “With the position that our team is in, with limited bodies, it actually has been rejuvenating for our team. Would I schedule that in the future? Probably not. But has it been great for us right now? Absolutely.”

The Falcons are 5-18 overall and 0-10 in MWC play this season. They are led by Jasamine Pettie, who is averaging 2.34 kills per set and has 33 total blocks, while Nichole Stilwell is adding 2.10 kills and 40 total blocks. The last time the two teams met was Oct. 4 as the Cowgirls defeated the Falcons 3-1 in Colorado Springs.

“Air Force, for whatever reason, they get fired up to play Wyoming,” Yerty said. “I wouldn’t take any team lightly. We’re going to prepare for Air Force like we would prepare for Utah or CSU. It is going to be critical that we defend their middles. They really had a nice match against us last time. We’re going to have to take care of the ball on our side and serve aggressive so their middles don’t have an opportunity to get up offensively. We’re going to have to hit positive.”

Wyoming returns to the road next week at Utah and BYU.