Cowgirls Move to 2-0 on the Season Thanks to Sweep at Omaha
* University of Wyoming press release
OMAHA, Neb. (Aug. 31, 2024) – In its first road match of the season, the Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team passed the test in straight sets Saturday at Omaha, dispatching of the Mavs 25-23, 25-18 and 31-29.
The Cowgirls (2-0) were much more efficient offensively Saturday in the win than in Friday’s opener as UW hit .242 in the sweep while holding Omaha to just a .107 attack percentage.
Wyoming also doubled-up the Mavs in total blocks, 8-4 and recorded nine service aces in the contest.
The first and third sets on Saturday were not easily taken by the Cowgirls as the first featured seven ties and a trio of lead changes. The third set, in which UW was able to close-out the match in a sweep, had 10 ties and five lead changes in a set that went to extra points. In the first, things were tied at 21-21 before three consecutive mistakes from Omaha gave Wyoming a 24-21 advantage that it would eventually close out.
After a second set that was mainly controlled by the Cowgirls and saw the Brown & Gold end the frame on a 9-3 run, it was on to the hard-fought third and final set. Wyoming trailed for most of the third, including being down by as many as five, 15-10. Eventually, UW would take the lead at 21-20 which then led to both teams exchanging points until it was 29-29. The Cowgirls would get a kill and force an attack error from there to end the match.
Emma Winter once again led the Cowgirl attack with nine kills in the victory while hitting .316. Abi Milby added eight kills while Sarah Holcomb and Kayla Mazzocca were solid in the middle for the second consecutive match, tallying seven kills each while hitting .385 and .429, respectively. The duo also led the way with four blocks each, defensively for the Cowgirls.
Kasia Partyka recorded her second double-double of the season in as many matches as she racked up 30 assists to go along with 10 digs. Partyka and Mazzocca also had a pair of service aces each. Sierra Grizzle, meanwhile, led the team with 11 digs and had four aces on the day.
The Cowgirls are back in action next week at the Akron and Cleveland State co-tournament Friday and Saturday in Ohio. Wyoming opens play with a matchup against UTRGV at 9 a.m., Mountain Time Friday.
Grizzle Named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
After the first week of volleyball action, the Wyoming Cowgirls have a Mountain West Player of the Week. Cowgirl libero Sierra Grizzle was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week Monday.
It’s the first-career Defensive Player of the Week honor for Grizzle and second honor overall. Grizzle was named Freshman of the Week October of last season.
Grizzle averaged 5.63 digs per set in Wyoming’s two wins this past weekend at the Omaha Invitational. Grizzle, who helped lead a Cowgirl defense that held their opponents to just a .111 hitting percentage in the two matches, started the weekend off with a career-high 34 digs in the come-from-behind win over Washington State. She then followed that performance up with 11 digs in the sweep at Omaha. Grizzle also recorded a match-high four service aces in the win Saturday over the Mavs.
Grizzle and the rest of the Cowgirls look to remain undefeated with a trio matches this week in the Buckeye State at the Akron and Cleveland State dual tournament.
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