LARAMIE, Wyo. (Sept. 1, 2019) – The Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team (0-2) is set to host LIU (0-2) on Monday in the UniWyo Sports Complex at 6:30 p.m. in UW's home opener. The match is the last match of the Buffs Invitational, as LIU and Wyoming decided to move the match up north to Laramie.
 
Wyoming is coming off a pair of losses to open the season, falling 3-0 to Colorado and 3-2 to UC Santa Barbara. Senior outside hitter Tara Traphagan and junior middle blocker Jackie McBride highlight Wyoming's balanced offense, as each have 21 kills through two matches. Junior setter Mackenzie Coates is directing Wyoming's attack with 41 assists early in the season, while senior outside hitter Halie McArdle has a pair of service aces to lead Wyoming.
 
Defensively, senior libero Madi Fields has collected 36 digs through two matches, while Coates has 22 digs following a 24-assist, 14-dig double-double performance against UCSB. Junior middle blocker Faith Waitsman has a team-best nine total blocks.
 
 The Sharks come into Laramie on a two-match losing streak to start the 2019 season. They dropped three-set matches to both UC Santa Barbara and Colorado as part of the Buffs Invitational, a tournament that officially ends after LIU and Wyoming square off.
 
The Sharks are led offensively by Kora Schaberl, who has 29 kills in the first six sets of the season, while Jovana Stekovic has 14 kills. Amanda Hubbard directs the offense with 35 assists, while Natalia Rivera leads the back line with 22 digs. Hubbard also leads LIU with five total blocks on the season. Stekovic and Karolina Nova both have a pair of service aces to start the season.
 
Wyoming and LIU met for the first time last season, a 3-0 Cowgirl victory in Portland, Ore., as part of the Portland Tournament.
 
Following Monday's match, the Cowgirls will host the UniWyo Invite on Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7, in the UniWyo Sports Complex. Wyoming welcomes Buffalo, Charleston and Northern Colorado to 7,220 feet for the two-day event.
 
Season tickets are available for Cowgirl volleyball, starting at $65 for public general admission and $35 for children between the ages of 3-12. Single-match tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for children. Fans can contact the Wyoming ticket office at (307) 7660-7220 or by visiting the ticket office in the Arena-Auditorium Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.