UW Stampede members taunt Nevada volleyball player Sam Willoughby on Saturday night as she gets ready to serve in the match against the Cowgirls.
The Wyoming Cowgirls volleyball team may be on its way to a Mountain West championship if it plays its cards right this season. So far the future looks bright for this year’s Mountain West Conference competition.
After TCU left this past season for the Big 12 Conference, the Cowgirls could have a chance at hitting, serving, digging and blocking their way to victory.
As of Oct. 1, the Cowgirls are 12-5 overall and 1-2 in the Mountain West Conference, putting them fifth in the conference standings. The Cowgirls are behind UNLV (3-0), CSU (2-1), Fresno State (2-1) and New Mexico (2-2).
The Cowgirls lost to New Mexico on Sept. 22 in 4 sets but have not played the other four teams ahead of them in standings.
The Cowgirls will play CSU at 7:45 p.m. on Friday. They will then play UNLV on Oct. 11 and Fresno State on Oct. 13. By the end of the season they will have played each of the Mountain West conference teams twice.
The conference statistics for the Cowgirls are strong. Senior outside hitter, Jodi Purdy, is currently second in service errors with 22 total and an average of .35 per set. Purdy also is third in points per set with a 3.97 average and seventh in kills per set with an average of 3.21.
Junior libero Becky Stewart is first in digs per set with 303 total and an average of 4.89. Junior setter Rachel Keyes is eighth in assists with 5.59 average and 341 total.
Junior middle blocker Reese Plante is second in hitting percentage with a .341 average and is sixth in blocks with 71 total and a 1.15 average.
Sophomore middle and right side hitter Erin Kirby is sixth in hitting with an average of .326 and is fourth in blocking with 80 total and a 1.33 average.
As a team, the Cowgirls are first in opponent hitting percentage with .129 percent. They are second in blocking with 171 total and a 2.77 per set average. Finally, the Cowgirls are third in service aces with 85 total and a 1.37 per set average.
