by Jackie McBride
Wyoming Volleyball Middle Blocker

After receiving athletic release from Ohio University, Kyra Slavik began the transfer process. At first, she thought she wanted to attend a school closer to her hometown of Saint Charles, Illinois, but then Wyoming Associate Head Coach Dan Georgalas came calling.
 
On a whim, she decided to pay a visit to Laramie and was pleasantly surprised by how at home she felt. Committing in November and arriving in January, relocating to Wyoming in the middle of the school year made for a quick turnaround, but she remained hopeful and excited to become a member of the Cowgirl Volleyball family.
 
"I loved everything about the school," said Slavik. "The coaches were awesome, the team looked super close, and everything just felt right."
 
She explains the initial nervousness she felt when immersed in a completely new place, but the team chemistry and sense of community that first attracted her to the program put her at ease.
 
"It's always a challenge to come in mid-year as a freshman transfer," head coach Chad Callihan said. "More so than a freshman acclimating in the fall, because at least there are other freshman with them, but she's got a personality that's easy to fit with."
 
Upon arrival in Laramie, Slavik was tasked with being the only setter on the team. After playing in nine matches during her freshman season at Ohio in 2018, she experienced a thumb injury and was granted medical redshirt status. Now fully healed and practicing, she is ready to face the challenge and help the Cowgirls reach new heights with her remaining four years of athletic eligibility.
 
"This team is on the cusp of some really great things and I am so fortunate to be a part of it," Slavik said.
 
Balancing academics, volleyball and strength training is difficult, but Slavik feels the task is much more manageable with the UW staff's support. The academic, strength and fueling facets of the High Altitude Performance Center are designed to make student-athletes as successful as possible. Slavik plans to take full advantage.
 
"Having such a great weight room and fueling station we are able to get so much more out of our workouts," she said.
 
As the off-season progresses, the freshman setter wants to continue fostering relationships with her teammates, build a strength base and excel in her studies. Additionally, Slavik is excited to be near the mountains. In her free time she enjoys hiking, hammocking, and biking. The Laramie community is turning out to be a great fit.
 
"She's a worker," Callihan said. "The rest of the team sees that and hopefully that makes them want to work with her. I look forward to continuing to see her grow and get comfortable in our program."
 
The Cowgirls are set to head to Greeley, Colo., on March 30, for their first spring match against Northern Colorado at 10:30 a.m.
 
On April 13, Callihan will join Colorado State head coach Tom Hilbert and assistant coach Emily Kohan, and Utah head coach Beth Launiere in a high school coaches clinic at 10:15 a.m. followed by a scrimmage against the Rams at 1 p.m.
 
The Cowgirls will finish off the spring season at home against Denver at 2 p.m. on April 27.