LARAMIE, Wyo. (Nov. 15, 2018) – The Wyoming volleyball team took care of business on Thursday night against New Mexico, sweeping the Lobos, 3-0, at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
 
The Cowgirls (19-10, 11-6 MW) overwhelmed the Lobos defensively, stifling one New Mexico attack after another recording 5.67 blocks per set for 17 total, the most for the Cowgirls in a three-set match this season. Wyoming held New Mexico to 26 kills—the least for the Lobos this season—on a -.022 hitting percentage—the lowest percentage for the Lobos this season. The Brown and Gold didn't allow New Mexico to break .100 in any of the three sets.
 
"People have asked me the last couple of days if we're disappointed or frustrated with our season," head coach Chad Callihan said. "We have a chance to win 20 games and I'm proud of our group because we didn't look like a disappointed or frustrated team tonight. That says a lot about the character of the kids that we have and the type of athletes that we have here. They take pride of what they do regardless of standings or where we're at. We play better some nights than others, but I was glad to see us come out and compete tonight."
 
Four Cowgirls contributed on five or more blocks, led by senior Reed Copeland who started her final regular-season home weekend off right with 12 total blocks to go along with five kills. Her 12 blocks were the most by a Cowgirl this season in non-five-set matches.
 
Junior Tara Traphagan turned in a stellar performance as well, recording 10 kills on a .300 hitting percentage to go along with six blocks. Setter Cori Aafedt led the Pokes in assists with 20 for her 20^th 20-assist outing of the season.
 
With only one lead change in the entire match, Wyoming didn't trail until early on in the third set.
 
The Cowgirls came out hot, stretching their lead to as large as 21-14 in the first. From that point, New Mexico would claw back to within five a couple of times to extend the set, but eventually the Pokes were able to close out the frame and pick up the 25-19 first-set win.
 
The Lobos were able to keep it close early in the second, using a few mini runs to stay in it, but the Cowgirls were simply too much down the stretch. After New Mexico was able to climb to within three at 23-20 and 24-21, Wyoming was able to get the big points when they mattered for the 25-21 set victory.
 
New Mexico took its first lead of the match at 1-0 early in the third, but it wouldn't last long as Wyoming went on a 5-1 run to seize a 5-2 lead. The Cowgirls didn't look back and expanded their lead to as big as 10 multiple times on the way to a 25-15 clincher.
 
The Cowgirls will be back in action on Saturday night at 7 p.m. MT when they host UNLV in the regular season finale. Prior to the match, the team will honor the careers of seniors Reed Copeland, Cori Aafedt and Emily Lewis.