A challenging schedule is ahead the Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team during the upcoming 2016 season.

The schedule was released Thursday with 31 matches on tap for fourth-year head coach Chad Callihan’s squad.

Wyoming will have only 13 matches at home, including one home tournament, the UniWyo Invite September 9-10. Nine of those home dates are Mountain West matches. That means the Cowgirls have only one other non-conference home game. It’s the home opener against North Dakota State August 29.

UW will play in three tournaments on the road at Purdue, Ohio State and Idaho in August and September.

Mountain West play begins at home September 22 versus San Jose State and September 24 against Fresno State. It concludes November 22 at Colorado State.

The Cowgirls will play eight league opponents twice, but Air Force and Boise State only once. Wyoming faces the Falcons on the road, while the Broncos will visit Laramie.

The schedule features six teams that won 20 or more matches last year and five teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Two of them made the Sweet 16.

Wyoming finished 23-7 last season and 13-5 in the MW. Their winning percentage (.767) was second best in school history. Their 13 conference wins were a program best.

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