The University of Wyoming volleyball team swelled in size on April 16 when head coach Chad Callihan announced the addition of eight recruits to the team’s roster.
“With the timing of our hire, we are fortunate to have this class come together,” Callihan said. “We lose four very good players to graduation and this class will help to fill the void that has been created.”
Seven of the eight signees will be new to the team in the fall. The eighth newcomer, Allison Waldvogel, is already at UW.
The Cowgirls’ list of new recruits names only two defensive specialists in the group. The first is Nampa, Idaho native Lily Austin. During her time at Skyview High School, Austin was a three-time First Team All-State honoree as well as a four-time All-Conference winner.
The second defensive newcomer is Waldvogel, a transfer from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. Waldvogel was a two-time letter winner during her time at Lindenwood, and will have two years of eligibility as a Cowgirl. Waldvogel spent the last year in Laramie, per the NCAA’s transfer rules.
Middle blockers make up the majority of Wyoming’s new recruiting class with three of the seven athletes occupying that position in some capacity.
The first is Kelly O’Brien from Long Beach, Calif. The six-foot-one blocker was a three-time All-Moore League Performer. O’Brien was also named the Max Preps Player of the Year in 2013.
Laurel Place from Cody will also look to fill the position. The only Wyomingite in this year’s draft class, Place earned All-State accolades twice in high school as well as three All-Conference selections.
Rounding out the blockers is Marley Taylor, who comes to Wyoming after redshirting at Eastern Washington University last season. Taylor earned All-State awards twice while attending Idaho Falls High School.
Wyoming brought in two outside hitters in this recruiting class: Emily Hines from Olathe, Kan. and Danielle Root from Eagle, Neb.
During her time at Waverly High School, Root was named to the Under Armor All-American Watch List in 2013 as well as the Nebraska State Championships All-Tournament Team in 2012 after helping her team to a third place finish in the tournament.
Hines was a three-time All-Sunflower League selection as well as a member of the United States High School Performance Continental Team while attending Olathe North High School.
The only setter in this year’s recruiting class is Danielle Westfall from Phoenix. Westfall helped lead Xavier College Prep to a state championship in 2013.
“Each player fills a different need but all have the qualities that we are looking for in our Cowgirls,” said Callihan. “They are competitive, driven academically and will be good ambassadors for Wyoming athletics. We can’t wait to get them in our gym and watch their growth as players over the next few years.”
