After tough losses two weeks ago in Iowa, the University of Wyoming Cowgirls volleyball team is looking forward into conference play.
The Cowgirls kicked off conference play on the road against San Jose State last Thursday, Sept. 22. The Cowgirls won all three sets.
“I’m super excited,” freshman KC McMahon said. “They’re a good team so I’m excited to see how we come out and play.”
In non-conference play the Cowgirls are 8 – 4. The Cowgirls have taken on and beaten some strong programs this season, including the University of Colorado and Arizona State University.
“Non-conference was definitely a big help,” McMahon said. “Playing some of those really good teams was definitely helpful to see where we’re struggling and where we’re doing well.”
The Cowgirls had a tough end to non-conference play, however. This past weekend at the Cyclone Invite in Ames, Iowa the Cowgirls went 0 – 3, losing to Iowa State, Syracuse and the University of Iowa. All three teams are regarded as some of the best programs in the nation.
“I think we lost a really good opportunity,” head coach for the Cowgirls Chad Callihan said. “As we transition into conference season, we’ve got to make sure that we’re on point every match.”
The Cowgirls do not plan to dwell on any loss this season. One major focus of theirs is to come back strong after any tough losses. “That’s one thing we worked on during preseason, we’ve just got to let these losses go,” coach Callihan said.
“(For conference) we look at it as everyone is coming in 0 – 0,” senior Emily Lewis said. “It doesn’t matter what you did in preseason when it comes to conference. Obviously winning a lot helps building confidence, but at the end of the day it’s 0 – 0 and anyone can beat anyone in this conference.”
Despite their last few non-conference games, the Cowgirls had a rather impressive preseason and they hope to carry that momentum and confidence over into conference play.
“I think it’s just the same mentality as when you practice well you’ll play as you practice,” Lewis said. “Going into practice on Monday and Tuesday, those days that are early on in the week and not necessarily game days, and being able to compete on those days really will carry us through on the Thursdays and Saturdays when we’re playing and competing against other teams. And I think if we practice that, we will be able to compete like that.”
One of the struggles the Cowgirls face during conference play is keeping up with everything and not getting exhausted, both physically and mentally. During conference season they are playing almost every Thursday and Saturday and even some Tuesdays. “Obviously school comes first, but I think we need to not let things going on off the court affect our gameplay,” coach Callihan said.
Many of the returning players note that it can be overwhelming to look at the season as a whole and it is important to not look at it in the long term.
“In September, we’re not looking at November or December we’re looking at the next eight seconds on the court,” Lewis said. “I have to have short-term vision… I have to think about what it’s going to take to earn each point.”
The Cowgirls next home game is Tuesday, Oct. 2 against CSU. The game is set to start at 6:30 p.m. MST.
