It was a season that had many goals met for the Cowgirls volleyball team. Some were reached and others were not. The Cowgirls began the season on a seven game winning streak. Wyoming had an overall record of 23-8 and a Mountain West conference record of 12-6.
“I thought that it was a good year and I thought that we did well,” head coach Chad Callihan said. “We had several goals that we set out and we obtained most of them with the NCAA tournament being one that we didn’t quite get. I thought it was a great year. I think we had the second highest winning percentage that any team has had at Wyoming.”
In his second year at Wyoming, coach Callihan posted his second 20 win season and got the Cowgirls to finish third in the Mountain West. The Cowgirls were third in kills per set and was second in the Mountain West in hitting percentage. The Wyoming volleyball team finished in the top half of the Mountain West in almost every team stat.
Wyoming also had a couple of players that lead the Mountain West in a couple of key categories. Senior Erin Kirby was the leader in hitting percentage with .422, followed by fellow Cowgirl Sophomore Laura Beach with a hitting percentage of .406. Junior Bridget Shanahan was third in kills per set with 3.33. She led the Cowgirls in kills and points for the year. Kirby, Beach and Shanahan were also all named to the Mountain West All-Conference team.
Of the three making the All-Conference team coach Callihan said, “It indicates that we had some great individual performers but to garner three recipients means we also had a successful season as a team. Congratulations to all three individuals. They’ve worked incredibly hard the past year and it’s nice to see them recognized for their efforts.”
This was Kirby’s fourth time making the All-Conference team and is the second Cowgirl to ever do it. For Beach and Shanahan, it is their first time being selected.
There were also some players that surprised coach Callihan. Sophomores Courtney Chacon and Kayla Slofkiss both were able to come in and fill big roles for UW.
“There was a big question mark at the setting position and (Chacon) really solidified that and did a great job,” coach Callihan said. “We needed one player that could play all six rotations and go all the way around the floor for us and Kayla Slofkiss kind of emerged and took on that role for us.”
Slofkiss was fourth on the team in kills and in points. She also had 289 digs which was second best on the team. Chacon led the team in assists, where she averaged 10.4 per set, which was fourth best in the Mountain West.
It was a season that reached many goals for the Cowgirls; from winning seven straight to start the season to having four players make the All-Conference team. They might not have reached all of their goals but they did get many. An offseason of sweat and tears awaits the volleyball team as they look to set new goals and do bigger and better things.
