Cowgirl seniors leave with fond memories

Cowgirl seniors, from left, Carissa Lee, Samantha Eley and Tasha Weishahn

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

At first glance, one would think that the three Wyoming volleyball seniors couldn’t wait to get the season over with.

After all, the Cowgirls have won just four games this season (4-18, 3-10 in MWC).

At second glance, though, you see three seniors who having the time of their life despite some ups and downs in threw won-loss column.

Setter Tasha Weishahn, libero Carissa Lee and outside hitter Samantha Eley will be playing their final home games of their careers Saturday when the Cowgirls host San Diego State at 7 p.m. in the UniWyo Sports Complex.

Why the fun? All three said it is because of new head coach Carrie Yerty.

“It’s been a great season. Our record doesn’t show it, but it has been a lot of fun," Weishahn said. Carrie has been a blessing to work with and it has been an honor to play for her.”

“In the past our record has been better, but it was more of a drag,” Weishahn said. “”This year, even though our record doesn’t show it, we’ve had so much fun; we’ve worked so hard. We’ve competed with every team we have played. It’s just been a matter of getting over that hump. This is a young team and a new program, so in a few years it will get over that hump.”

Lee added: “I think it has been a good season. I love Carrie, I love the team. I like how she has come in here and changed our program. It’s been a great experience this last year.”

Yerty has emphasized to her three seniors that although they will play for her for just one season, they are a big part of the rebuilding process.

“Carrie makes sure that we feel like we are a part of it (rebuilding the program), that we are an important part,” Eley said. “She really emphasized this season that we’re going to building the foundation and we’re going to be setting the goals for the team next year. I’m excited to see how it goes.”

“I firmly believe that we are building the foundation,” Lee added. “All three of us seniors, we play on the court , we’ve had the most experienced. We’ve all learned to work together. I think hat if the younger girls see that, we only have one year with Carrie and we’re giving our best that we can in her system, I think it would be great for them.”

While the Cowgirls have struggled with wins and losses in their tenure, all three have put together impressive runs as players.

On Thursday, Lee became the all-time Wyoming leader in digs with 1,110, moving past UW Hall of Famer Ronda Munger.

It’s been a ton of great experiences; make memories with all of the girls on the team. Playing a sport is just a great experience,” Lee said.

Weishahn has the most experience as a four-year starter. She is currently third all-time for assists at Wyoming with 4,088.

“It was awesome to come in as a freshman and start and play, so I have had a lot of experience here,” Weishahn said. “I just love Wyoming, I love the town, I love the girls. It’s been a great experience. It will be nice to move back to Nebraska, too.”

Eley spent most of her career as a libero, before moving to the net this season after an injury to sophomore Chantilly Watson.

“I remember coming in as a freshman and being scared and wide eyed,” Eley said. “It was a good experience. I wouldn’t take it back for anything; I would do it all again for sure. I do wish that I could have had Carrie for all four years. She’s just going to make these girls amazing and she’s a great person and now she expects good things.”

The future looks bright for the three long-time volleyball players as well.

An elementary education major, Weishahn said she will be doing her student teaching in her native Nebraska next semester and then after getting married, looking to be a teacher and coach.

Eley will also be getting married in the near future and will graduate with a degree in communications in the fall of 2009. She looks to get an internship with the UW athletic department as well.

Lee will graduate in the spring of 2009 and looks to go to graduate school studying speech language pathology.

While all three are ready to move on in another chapter in their lives, they said it has been a positive experience, topped off by an enjoyable season.

“It‘s nuts, it is insane to be here at this point. It‘s crazy to think that we have been playing together for almost four years here,” Weishahn said.

Eley said earlier this week that she keeps forgetting that they are at their final home games of their careers.

When we talk about senior stuff, I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m a senior,’” Eley said. “It is weird, but it is bittersweet. I’m excited for the next chapter in my life, but I’m still sad to be leaving.”

Added Lee: “We grew these four years together. It is going to be exciting, we’re going to move on. We have a ton of great memories from our four years here.”