LARAMIE, Wyo. (Nov. 14, 2018) – Wyoming head volleyball coach Chad Callihan announced the signings of three future Cowgirls to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers in Laramie beginning in the fall of 2019. The program welcomes Emersen Cyza (Alliance, Neb.), Erika Jones (Fort Collins, Colo.) and Hailey Zuroske (Omaha, Neb.).
 
"We are excited to welcome Emersen, Erika and Hailey to the Wyoming family," Callihan said. "All three of these young ladies can pass and defend and that is something our staff is putting a premium on.  I look forward to getting them to campus and seeing how quickly they can get acclimated to the collegiate game.  As always, this class is strong academically and we know they will serve as wonderful ambassadors for the University of Wyoming."
 
Emersen Cyza
Outside Hitter
6'1"
Alliance, Nebraska
Alliance HS
 
Cowgirl signee Emersen Cyza hails from Alliance High School in Alliance, Neb., where she is a four-year letterwinner in volleyball, a three-year letterwinner in basketball and a two-year letterwinner in track.
 
Cyza has proven herself to be a difference-maker on the court, being named MVP of her high school team all four years. She was named the the NE Preps Class B All-State Second Team as a junior and to the All-Western Conference team as a junior and senior. As a junior, she was also named to the Scottsbluff Star Herald All-Region First team, while being named the Star Herald All-Region Player of the Year and honorable mention All-State by the Omaha World Herald.
 
Her school's record holder for kills in a single season (508), she was named to the Alliance Times Herald Terrific Twelve as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and earned All-Tournament honors at the Twin City Invite each of the last two seasons.
 
Cyza has helped lead her team to three district runner-up finishes before they earned the district title her senior year to qualify for state. She led the team to the Pilfold Tournament title as a junior and runners-up as a senior. Her senior year, the team was runners up in the Twin City Tournament and Western Conference.
 
She is a standout academically as well, being named to the Honor Roll all four years and participating in Key Club as a senior.
 
Born in Scottsbluff, Neb., to parents Jim and Pam Cyza, she plans to major in education at Wyoming.
 
Why Did You Choose UW?: Growing up, my family and I attended many Wyoming football games and once I knew I was interested in playing college volleyball, I decided to go to the Elite camp my 8th grade year. I immediately felt at home. I bonded really well with the coaches and players and knew that the Cowgirl volleyball team was something I wanted to be a part of.
 
Erika Jones
Defensive Specialist
5'7"
Fort Collins, Colo.
Fort Collins HS
 
Erika Jones is set to come to Wyoming from Fort Collins High School where she has been a standout defensive specialist the last four years.
 
A four-year letterwinner, Jones is coming off being named to the All-Conference first team in 2018 after earning honorable mention in 2016 and 2017. She led her team to a co-conference championship in 2017 on the way to a fifth-place finish at the Colorado State Volleyball Championships later that season. Serving as a team captain each of the last two seasons she was named to the Regis Jam All-Tournament team in 2018.
 
Jones is a three-year academic letterwinner, and projects to earn another in 2019. She was named to the CHSAA Academic All-State First Team in 2017 and 2018 and has been a member of the National Honor Society since fall of 2017. She has been involved in a number of community service activities including volunteering at Respite Care, Inc., Special Olympics and the R-Word Campaign.
 
Born in Fort Collins, Colo., to parents Gordon and Michelle Jones, Jones plans to major in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at Wyoming.
 
Why Did You Choose UW?: "I decided to attend UW because the people are so nice and welcoming, the team has a great dynamic that felt like a good fit for me, and UW has a great program in what I want to study."
 
Hailey Zuroske
Outside Hitter
6'0"
Omaha, Neb.
Marian HS
 
Hailey Zuroske comes to Wyoming after lettering four years in volleyball at Marian High School in Omaha, Neb.
 
Zuroske is a two-time Nebraska state champion, leading Marian to titles in 2015 and 2017, while also helping the team to state semifinal appearances in 2016 and 2018. She was an all-state honorable mention selection in 2017 and 2018, and as a senior she compiled an impressive stat line with 310 kills and 312 digs.
 
With all of her accomplishments on the court, Zuroske has garnered a number of academic honors as well. She was named to both the Honor Roll and Principal's Honor Roll all four years of her high school academic career. She has also been a member of National Honor Society since 2017.
 
Zuroske also participates in a leadership program at Marian called Crusaders Elevating Others.
 
Born in Omaha, Neb., to parents Chris and Michelle Zuroske, she plans to study at the University of Wyoming School of Pharmacy as a Cowgirl.
 
Why Did You Choose UW?: "As soon as I visited the University I immediately fell in love with it and could see myself being a student at UW. I also enjoyed the mountains and the close family feel the town and college has.