LARAMIE, Wyo. (Oct. 8, 2019) – The Wyoming volleyball team hosts a pair of pivotal matches this weekend as the Cowgirls welcome San Diego State and Fresno State to 7220. SDSU comes to town for a 6:30 p.m., contest Thursday while UW will host Fresno at 1 p.m., Saturday.
The Pokes (8-7, 3-1 MW) are coming off their fourth consecutive five-set match to begin Mountain West play last Thursday as Wyoming outlasted Air Force, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 21-25 and 15-10. Jackie McBride led the way offensively for the Pokes with a career-high 18 kills in the win. Kyra Slavik recorded her second double-double in the last three matches with 43 assists and a career-best 18 digs against the Falcons. KC McMahon and Tara Traphagan added 11 and kills, respectively in the match while Madi Fields had a match-high 22 digs.
McBride enters the weekend ranking third in the league during conference play with a .395 hitting percentage while her 1.60 blocks per set ranks fourth. Fields meanwhile, is second in the MW in digs per set with 4.29 while Slavik's 9.07 assists per set during league play is the sixth-best mark in the conference.
The Cowgirls enter this week with a 5-1 home record in 2019. Wyoming is fourth in the league during conference play in hitting percentage (.224) and blocks per set (2.65). Opponents are averaging a league-low 1.70 blocks per set against the Cowgirls this season during Mountain West play.
San Diego State is led by the duo of Hannah Turnlund and Victoria O'Sullivan who have 205 and 204 kills, respectively this season. Tamia Reeves is hitting .398 from her middle blocker position this season and .409 in league matches, a mark that ranks second. Camryn Machado leads the Aztecs averaging 10.37 assists per set, which ranks third in the Mountain West. SDSU is hitting .229 as a team during league play, the third-best mark.
Fresno State is led by Desiree Sukhov's 241 kills (4.23 per set) in 2019. Sukhov is also averaging four kills per set during Mountain West play, which is tied for the best mark in the league. Madelyn Halteman is fourth in the league averaging 10.43 assists per set while also ranking second in the conference with nine service aces during conference play. Reagan Leonard is one of the top liberos in not only the league, but in the country as she is averaging a league-leading 4.74 digs per set overall and an incredible 6.43 per during MW play.
Thursday's match will be a Wyoming Tumbler giveaway. Fans in attendance can get their hands on a UW drink tumbler while supplies last.
Both matches this weekend can be followed via the Mountain West Digital Network and live stats. For coverage links, go to gowyo.com/coverage.
-WYO-
