Cowgirl volleyball to close home slate

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming assistant coach Jill Stucky talks to the team during a time out in a recent home match.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

The Wyoming volleyball team hasn't had the best of luck in the won-loss column, but it has put up a fight for much of the season, especially at home.

The Cowgirls will get two more tries to come away with home wins when they host UNLV Thursday night and San Diego State on Saturday. Both matches will begin at the UniWyo Sports Complex at 7 p.m.

The Cowgirls are just 4-17 overall this season and 3-9 in Mountain West Conference play. Wyoming, however, has been tougher than its record indicates. The Cowgirls have been in six five-set matches and lost all six. One of those five-set losses came last week against New Mexico and another came earlier in the season against San Diego State.

“It is really going to be important for us to stay focused,” Wyoming coach Carrie Yerty said. “Our team does really well when it is relaxed. These kids want to win so bad … for themselves, for the seniors, for me, for the university. They get really tight when it comes down to the end. We’ve been focusing on just trying to be relaxed and play under pressure.”

The momentum from the New Mexico game should carry over for these final two matches, Yerty added.

“Being at home, being the last weekend, will be inspiration in itself,” she said.

The Cowgirls are currently led by outside hitter Dani Bedore, who is averaging 3.04 kills, which is sixth in the MWC, and 1.67 digs per set. She is followed Lauren Whitney, who is adding 2.77 kills and almost one dig per set. As a team, they are averaging 11.94 kills and 11.08 digs per set.

The Rebels enter the week 14-12 overall and 7-6 in MWC play. They are led by Jessica Walters, who is averaging 3.08 kills and .92 digs per set, while Erin Greenwood is adding 2.78 kills and .71 blocks per set. The last time the two teams met was Oct. 18. as the Rebels defeated the Cowgirls, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23, in Las Vegas.

“For us, we just really need to focus on UNLV, defending their middle and taking care of our side of the court,” Yerty said.

The Cowgirls will close the weekend against the Aztecs, who are 8-15 overall and 5-8 in MWC play and will take on CSU before facing Wyoming. They are led by Lauren Salisbury, who is averaging 2.94 kills and 1.01 blocks per set, while Stephanie Darnall is adding 2.71 kills and 1.83 digs per set. SDSU leads the series 27-8. The last time the two teams met was Oct. 16, as the Aztecs defeated the Cowgirls in five (20-25, 25-12, 25-10, 20-25 and 15-11) in San Diego.

“Against San Diego State, I think we’ll have a real competitive match,’ Yerty said. “I truly believe we should have beat them at San Diego. I think we’ll have a good opportunity to beat them on senior night.”

The Cowgirls will close the season next week at Utah and BYU.