Box Score | Season Stats | Dig for the Cure

The University of Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team fell in five sets to Nevada this afternoon in the UniWyo Sports Complex. After winning the opening set, the five-set loss (25-10, 25-27, 15-25, 25-16, 3-15) proved to be the first of the season at home for UW (12-8, 5-2 MW).

"I was so proud of the way we started out at the beginning of the match," UW head coach Chad Callihan said. "We started this afternoon executing at a high level and making great plays. In that first set, we were playing free both offensively and defensively. We will get back into the gym this week and get back to basics to prepare for our next weekend of play."

Senior middle blocker Laura Beach led the team with 17 kills to tie her career-high. She was also one block away from her first double-double of the season, as she added nine total blocks against the Wolf Pack.  Senior setter Courtney Chacon dished out a match-high 38 assists for the Cowgirls. Not only has Chacon led UW in assists in each match this season, but it was her 11th match with at least 30. Chacon also had a career-high six total blocks against Nevada. After posting a career-high 19 against San Diego State on Thursday, freshman Madi Fields recorded 17 digs for UW on Saturday.

Senior outside hitter Kayla Slofkiss added 12 digs for the Brown and Gold, as well as eight kills. Junior Lily Austin added seven digs against the Wolf Pack, while sophomore Reed Copeland recorded seven kills and was second on the team with six total blocks. Freshman Halie McArdle smashed home a career-high four kills, while fellow freshman Tara Traphagan and sophomore Mattison DeGarmo each brought home three kills for UW. Redshirt freshman Bayly Poor played in three sets for Wyoming and contributed two kills and two digs on Saturday.

After its five-set thriller against San Diego State on Thursday night, UW came out firing against Nevada. Wyoming claimed ten of the first 14 points to begin the match. Beach's six kills in the opening set helped the Cowgirls gather leads as high as 14 and 15 during the set before eventually taking the first-set victory, 25-10. The biggest lead in the second stanza by either team was three when Nevada led, 7-4. Beach had four kills for UW, while Chacon passed out nine assists in a very close second set. The Wolf Pack took it in extras, 27-25.

After intermission, UW and Nevada went back and forth early before the Wolf Pack claimed three straight to bring their lead to four, 6-2. Nevada ultimately had ten kills in the third set, compared to Wyoming's seven. Copeland and Beach led the Cowgirls in the fourth frame with three kills each. UW jumped out to a 7-1 advantage after two attacking errors from Nevada. Three-consecutive kills from Slofkiss, Traphagan and Copeland, respectively, brought the score to 24-14 for UW's largest lead. A kill from Copeland sealed the fourth-set victory for Wyoming, 25-16. Nevada earned nine kills in the fifth and final frame on its way to capturing the victory against Wyoming.

The Cowgirls will hit the road for its next two matches, as they travel to Fresno State this coming Thursday and San Jose State on Saturday. By clicking the link above, fans will be able to auction for the Dig for the Cure match-worn jerseys for the remainder of the weekend. All proceeds from the auction will go to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center's Cancer Clinic.