With the Cowgirls’ non-conference schedule coming to a close with an 8-3 record, they’ll be hoping to continue their winning ways heading into Mountain West conference play.
Last year, the Cowgirls got off to a record breaking 11-0 start to the season, flawlessly running through all of their non-conference games. To that point, it looked as if the Cowgirls were untouchable at the top of the league. That team, however, was quickly introduced to conference play with four straight losses. That eventually led to them placing seventh, just one place shy of being able to compete in the Mountain West championships.
Head coach Kaylee Prigge vowed to not let her squad enter conference play unprepared this season. It was her and the staff’s goal to create a harder non-conference schedule to challenge this team before diving into their league slate. They’ve done that through the scheduling of four power conference schools and two other mid-major programs that made last year’s NCAA tournament field.
“Our expectation from our non-conference season was just feeling prepared and tested and confident going into conference play,” Prigge said.
The Cowgirls have picked up some impressive wins this season, including a thrilling victory over Washington State that took all five sets and a solid road win over Colorado. The Cowgirls also took down an Omaha team that won the Summit League last year, as well as recently sweeping a Coppin State team that won the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference) last year.
“The win against Colorado, I think gave us a boost and I think it helped us realize that we can compete with anyone,” Kasia Partyka, a senior who was an all-Mountain West selection last year, said.
The Mountain West already looks to be a gauntlet, though, as seven of the eleven teams are entering conference play with a winning record.
After starting league play with four straight losses last season, the Cowgirls will be looking to start on the right foot this time around. Another start like they had last year could just lead to another heartbreaking end to the regular season. And for the multitude of returning players and coaches from last year, that’s the last thing that they want for this season.
“Hopefully we can just prove everyone wrong and prove to ourselves that we are up there with other teams in the Mountain West,” Partyka said.
Prigge has noted that this is a much different team than last year, so they’re not letting the results of last year weigh on them too much. Much of their youth from a year ago has garnered much more experience, and with the addition of some impactful transfers and freshmen, this team isn’t looking in the rearview mirror much at all. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re not taking glances back for motivation.
“This is a new group, and not everybody was here last year, so we try hard not to always take it back to last year…but I definitely think that’s a motivating factor for those of us that were here last year and something that we’re keeping in the back of our minds.” Prigge said.
Both Prigge and Partyka reiterated that one of this year’s team’s biggest strengths so far has been their gritty defensive efforts. The Cowgirls currently average the second most blocks per set in the conference, as well as boast the second lowest opponent hitting percentage, just below a San Jose State team that is currently undefeated.
“I think that can set us apart in conference play when we’re defending to the level we want to be defending at,” Prigge said.
With the team as confident as ever and their motivations clear for the rest of this season, all they have left to do is win. That will be easier said than done, though, as the Cowgirls will hit the road to take on Nevada on September 26, then travel to Utah State, last year’s regular season champions, on September 28.
The momentum that would come with a massive two win road swing could be a deciding factor on how the rest of the season plays out for the Cowgirls.
“We spent four weeks on the road before being at home this last weekend, and that was not on accident,” Prigge said.
“I think starting faster and getting off to a good start is huge for us.”
