LARAMIE, Wyo. (Oct. 31, 2017) – The University of Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team will host a pair of tough Mountain West contests this week beginning with Boise State on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. MT. The weekend will conclude when the Cowgirls entertain Utah State at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
 
Live Coverage
Both matches will be broadcast live on the MW Network. Links to live stats and live video can be found above. Fans are also welcomed and encouraged to follow @wyo_volleyball on Twitter and @wyovolleyball on Instagram for updates throughout the week.
 
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls (13-11, 8-4 MW) defeated Air Force in four sets on Friday. It was the eighth-straight victory over the Falcons. The Brown and Gold were led by sophomore Tara Traphagan with 13 kills. Redshirt freshman Jackie McBride had a team-best eight total blocks, while freshman Marissa Harmon tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 38 assists and 11 digs. A week ago, UW fell to No. 20 Colorado State in four sets. Sophomore Halie McArdle posted her fourth double-double with a team-leading 15 kills, in addition to 12 digs. Sophomore Madi Fields also led the team with 17 digs against the Border War rival.
 
Cowgirl Leaders
Wyoming remains second in the MW in hitting percentage (.230, 1144-446-3036) and opponent hitting percentage (.181, 1148-582-3127). The Cowgirls are also third in blocks (2.74 bps) and fifth in kills (12.71 kps). Individually, junior Reed Copeland is third in the league in blocks (1.28 bps), while McBride is seventh (1.18 bps). Fields is sixth in digs (3.99 dps), as Harmon is also sixth in service aces (0.32 saps). Copeland is seventh in hitting percentage (.313, 155-55-319), while Harmon sits seventh in assists (9.14 aps).
 
Against Boise State and Utah State
Boise State won the lone contest against UW last season and Wyoming came away with a five-set victory earlier this season in Boise. It was the first win for UW on the road against the Broncos since 1994. Wyoming holds the edge, 12-11 in the all-time series. Wyoming has won the last six matches against Utah State, including a 3-0 sweep during the first week of October. The last loss against the Aggies came from a five-set defeat on the road in 2014 and Wyoming has a 19-14 all-time series advantage.
 
The Opponents
The Boise State Broncos were predicted to finish second in the MW, but are currently two games behind the second place Cowgirls. Boise State has a 13-11 overall record and are 6-6 in league action. Senior Sierra Nobley, who was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and is the MW all-time leader in kills, currently leads the MW in kills per set and points (5.40 pps). Nobley was an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and the MW Player of the Year a season ago. Senior Maddi Osburn, a six-time MW Defensive Player of the Week, sits atop the conference in digs (5.10 dps). Utah State was selected to finish sixth in the MW and have a 13-11 overall mark and 5-7 record in conference. Senior Lauren Anderson sits behind Nobley in kills and points, averaging 3.95 and 4.53 per set, respectively for the Aggies. Junior Kassidy Johnson is second in the MW in assists (10.29), while junior Tasia Taylor is second in digs (4.89 dps).
 
Up Next
Wyoming will once again hit the road for two more conference matches following this weekend. The Brown and Gold will take on San Jose State on Thursday Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. MT, before a Nov. 11 contest with Nevada at noon.