LARAMIE, Wyo. (Feb. 3, 2021) – For the first time in 428 days, the Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team will be playing a match as the Cowgirls open the spring 2021 season February 5 and 6, at Utah State. Friday's contest is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday will be at 3 p.m. UW will play a 16-match, conference-only schedule this season.
Wyoming is led by two returning All-Mountain West performers from 2019 in Jackie McBride and KC McMahon. The postseason honor following last season was the third in McBride's career while it was the first selection for McMahon. McBride was selected to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team, announced in January. McBride was second on the team with 310 kills last season and averaged 2.61 kills per set. McBride's .360 hitting percentage in 2019 ranked third-best in the league while her 150 total blocks ranked seventh in the MW. McMahon led UW last season with 361 kills, ranking seventh in the league.
UW is coming off a 22-9 record overall a season ago, and made its third consecutive postseason appearance as the Cowgirls hosted the first two rounds of the NIVC Tournament. With their first round sweep over Northwestern State in last season's NIVC, the Cowgirls recorded their first postseason victory since 1989. The 22 wins last season are the sixth-most in program history. Wyoming recorded a program-record 16 conference victories in 2019, finishing 16-2 and placing second to Colorado State. The Brown and Gold was tabbed to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll with 80 points and received one first-place vote.
The Cowgirls return seven letter winners from last season. In addition to McBride and McMahon, the Cowgirls return sophomore Emersen Cyza, sophomore Erika Jones, sophomore Kyra Slavik, sophomore Kyra Slavik and senior Faith Waitsman. Wyoming also welcomes seven newcomers to the squad in freshmen Casady Berry (Loveland, Colo.), Corin Carruth (Casper, Wyo.), Trinity Corney (Fort Collins, Colo.), Naya Shimé (Riverton, Wyo.) and Zoee Smith (Gering, Neb.). A pair of transfers also join the Cowgirls in Kaitlyn Gehler (Memphis) and Abby Olsen (Tyler CC).
Utah State is led by first-year head coach Rob Neilson and returns Bailey Downing, who led the Aggies with 169 kills (1.59 per set), 242.5 points and 126 total blocks in 2019. The 126 blocks ranked eighth in the MW last season. USU also returns its leader in the back row in Grace DuBay, who led the Aggies with 254 digs in 2019.
Utah State hit .133 as a team in 2019 and allowed opponents to hit .241. The Aggies' 279 blocks (2.58 per set) ranked third-best in the league. Wyoming swept the season series last season with Utah State, winning in five sets at Utah State and sweeping the Aggies in the home regular season finale.
Head Coach Chad Callihan enters his eighth season leading the Cowgirls and has tallied 144 wins at UW, a program record. Last season was the fifth 20-plus win season under Callihan. Prior to his arrival in Laramie, Wyoming had seven 20-win seasons in program history.
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