Members of the University of Wyoming volleyball team celebrate a point against Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday during the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic in Laramie. The Cowgirls remain undefeated after facing their first eight opponents.
The Cowgirls volleyball team captured its second consecutive tournament title over the weekend. Wyoming rolled through the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic with a 4-0 record.
UW started the tournament by sweeping both Bethune Cookman and George Washington on Friday. The action continued on Saturday with two more straight set victories against Florida Gulf Coast and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
The Cowgirls were in the zone all weekend, and none of their opponents stood much of a chance. Wyoming’s attack percentage on the weekend was a strong .308, while holding their opponents to a low -.027 attack percentage.
UW beat Bethune Cookman (0-7) on Friday with set scores of 25-12, 25-15 and 25-13. Then the team took it to GWU (1-6) in a 25-9, 25-12, 25-23 contest. GWU tested the Cowgirls in a back and forth third set, but UW prevailed in the end to preserve the sweep.
Wyoming started off Saturday’s contests with a 25-16, 25-18, 25-15 victory over Florida Gulf Coast (4-3) and went on to defeat UMKC (5-3) with a 25-18, 25-10, 25-13 score in the second match.
The final match against UMKC was essentially the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic championship game, as both teams entered with perfect 3-0 records. The teams traded points for much of the first set, but the Cowgirls pulled away with an 11-5 run and never looked back.
The momentum of the first set was too much for the Kangaroos to overcome, and the Cowgirls cemented their championship with yet another three-set victory.
UW senior Jodi Purdy was named tournament MVP, averaging eight kills, 5.75 digs and 1.5 aces on the weekend. Junior setter Rachel Keyes and sophomore Erin Kirby also received all-tournament honors.
The Cowgirls kept their undefeated start to the 2012 season intact. They did not drop a set the entire weekend, and now boast an 8-0 record on the year.
“This team is very resilient and are focused coming into every match,” head Coach Carrie Yerty said to explain the team’s early success.
“We are going to take the opportunity to celebrate this 8-0 start for tonight, but tomorrow we are back to business.”
The Cowgirls’ workmanlike approach to the season is already paying dividends. With just two weeks in the books, the Cowgirls have already won two tournaments and racked up a 24-1 set differential.
The Cowgirls will put their unblemished record on the line next weekend in Lawrence, Kansas, at the Kansas Jayhawk Classic.
