Wyoming Volleyball Splits First Matches of the Season

The University of Wyoming volleyball team began their season with a five set loss to Oregon State and then came back to beat Gonzaga in three sets on Friday in the first day of the UniWyo Wyoming Invite.

The young Cowgirl team returns just two starters from last year's squad and the inexperience showed in the first match as Wyoming took a two set lead over Oregon State, 25-23, 25-21, then lost the next three sets, 23-25, 17-25, 13-15. Wyoming gained the two set lead by out-blocking OSU 10-to-6 and utilizing good ball control to out run multiple options on offense. The Beavers had 21 hitting errors through the first two sets and 21 kills with the Cowgirls had 23 kills and just 12 hitting errors.

The tables would turn in the third set as OSU hitters cut down on errors and the Wyoming passing became less consistent, allowing the Beaver defense to break down the Cowgirl offense quickly during volleys. Although the third and fifth sets were very close, Oregon State had the more mature team to step up in the pressure situations.

The difference between us winning that match and losing that match is maturing as a team. When it got tighter, we got a little bit tighter. Yes, I'm disappointed we lost a five-game match to a team that I think we could've beat, but I also think that our team played hard and they challenged that team and we took a step forward today.
-Wyoming Head Coach Carrie Yerty

OSU outside hitter Camille Saxton led all hitters with 17 kills, followed by middle blocker Ashley Eneliko with 16 kills. Eneliko only had one hitting error in the match for a .625 hitting percentage. Left-handed setter Megan McBride chipped in 6 kills to go with her 43 assists and her threat of attack opened up the net for the OSU middles. The Beavers hit .196 for the match (65-32-168) and posted 77 digs and 12 blocks.

Junior outside hitter Jodi Purdy led the charge for the Cowgirls with 12 kills, 21 digs (career high), 2 aces, 4 block assists and 1 solo block. Camille Coffman had 11 kills and Reese Plante tied her career high with 8 block assists. Wyoming ran a 6-2 with sophomore Rachel Keyes and true freshman Whitney Smith. Keyes had 23 assists and Smith had 18.

Two other freshman made their collegiate volleyball debut against Oregon State. Redshirt freshman Erin Kirby started at middle blocker and put down 9 kills and 4 block assists. True freshman Meghan Sipe came in as a defensive specialist late in the match and picked up 2 digs.

After the loss in their first match of the season, UW came out with very high intensity for their second match of the day against Gonzaga and worked quickly for the three-set win, 25-11, 25-20, 25-18. Wyoming controlled the entire match. Even when Gonzaga grabbed a 15-11 lead in the third set,  11 of Gonzaga's points were from Cowgirl errors in the form of four missed serves and five hitting errors and two bad sets. Once UW cleaned up their play, they quickly closed the match.

I think it's really hard when you go up 2-0 like that. We came out on fire and then came out in our first match against Oregon State and let down a little bit so we talked about that in the locker room...I think we had a few mental lapses but...once we got back in rhythm we controlled the pace of the match. I very pleased with our blocking and I'm pleased with the young kids coming in. Meghan Sipe has done a great job all day today for her first appearance and we've seen a good performance out of Whitney Smith. I just think it's been good today. We got day one over with and hopefully we can come back and be ready for day two.
-Wyoming Head Coach Carrie Yerty

Erin Kirby led the Cowgirls against Gonzaga with 9 kills, 5 block assists and a .533 hitting percentage. The Mountain West Conference Champion in the 400 meter hurdles said she was glad she finally gets to show what she's got on the volleyball court.

I was really excited. I was kind of nervous at first, but it was a good kind of nervous. Then once we got on the floor the team just made it really comfortable and everything just kind of clicked. It was way fun. It was nice to be able to go out there and show what I learned last year because I learned a whole bunch just from redshirting and I was glad I had the opportunity to do that.
-Erin Kirby

Jodi Purdy also had 9 kills against Gonzaga as well as 6 block assists and an ace. Sophomore outside hitter Calli Miller posted 4 kills and 9 digs while Emily Rochelle had 10 digs. The Cowgirls out blocked Gonzaga 10.5-to-1.0.

Rochelle started both matches as libero for the Cowgirls. Anticipated starter Becky Stewart was out because of an injury. Head Coach Carrie Yerty did not give a timeline for Stewart's return or identify the injury, but Stewart's left quad donned a tight wrap.

Emily did a great job for the first time ever as libero. Obviously we want Becky Stewart back as soon as she's ready to come back, but I think that was invaluable experience for Emily which will help us in the long run.
-Wyoming Head Coach Carrie Yerty

The last day of tournament will see Wyoming take on South Dakota at 1:30 p.m. and DePaul at 7:00 pm  on Saturday in the UniWyo Sports Complex.