Faith Waitsman has been around the volleyball program long enough to understand.

For four seasons this fifth-year COVID senior has been an outstanding middle blocker for the Cowgirls who open their 23^rd season of Mountain West play tonight, hosting Utah State at 6:30 p.m. at the UniWyo Sports Complex.

But this valuable senior and team leader was all in when the coaching staff asked her to transition to mostly an outside hitter role.

Ironically, she came to Wyoming as a middle blocker but the coaching staff needed a right side so that's where she began her career as a Cowgirl freshman.

"I was pretty uncomfortable there (right side) as a freshman," says the personable veteran. "So they moved me back to the middle. Now I'm back on the right side I totally get the move because it's what the team needed.   Because of my experience I'm much more comfortable there now than I was when I came as a freshman. It's all about where the team needs you most."

She appreciates the challenges the two positions pose.  "They are both challenging, but in different ways," she says.  "I think that physically middle blocker is extremely difficult.  You are a workhorse and you have to bring the energy.

"Right side is more mental.  You really have to be thinking the game, what's the smart play to make.  You have to be anticipating the next move.  It's really mental.  As a freshman, I wasn't ready for that mental aspect. I'm much more equipped now."

Faith was recruited to Wyoming from her hometown of Fayetteville, Ark., where she was a three-time all-state selection and an Under Armour All-American.

Yet, as a young, gifted athlete, Waitsman had no idea that volleyball would be her future.  "Basketball was the big thing to me through ninth grade. I enjoyed it, and because of my height (6-2), thought basketball would be my sport.

"But I went out for volleyball on a whim, and loved it.  It didn't take long for me to realize that it would be my future."

At the behest of her mother, Nika, Faith also was in ballet.  "My mother thought it would be a good idea for me so that I could better grow into my body.  She was so right, it really helped me do just that.  I actually stopped growing in the eighth grade, and ballet, which I really enjoyed, was very helpful. Plus, I've always believed trying new and different things is good.

"I was always the tallest kid in class.  I was 6-2 in the eighth grade, and that's when I stopped growing."

While Faith is about the same height as her dad Bill, her older brother, Caleb, is 6-8 and played basketball at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden.  "Our younger sister (Whitney) is normal," she laughs.

Faith received a lot of attention from collegiate programs while helping Fayetteville High win a pair of state volleyball titles.  Of course the University of Arkansas was in her backyard, and showed interest, and she looked hard at the University of Iowa.

"Wyoming was a good option for me," she says.  "I wanted to go somewhere away from home to push myself.  I had an open mind about it.  When I came to visit here, I loved it.  Wyoming stuck out because of its player development.  I could see that they really cared about the players as individuals.  I'm so thankful I made that decision.  Wyoming was the perfect fit for me."

It's been such a perfect fit that it was an easy decision to accept an extra COVID year.  "I think my family is wondering if I'm ever going to leave here," she laughs.  "But it was not a tough decision in the least to stay another year.  I have one more semester to finish my undergraduate degree anyway, and I had a ton of motivation to stay and help us win a championship.

"It's crazy to think I've been here as long as I have.  Our coaches emphasize personal and player development, and I think I've grown as a leader and a teammate because of that.  They have taught me to face a lot of hard lessons head-on." 

Waitsman is majoring in Health Science but she is concentrating on dietetics.  "That is the direction I'm going," she says.  "It's a fun major and a growing field.  I think people, especially in athletics, are respecting that area more and more.  I know our dieticians here have been extremely helpful to me through my career."

It's well-documented how difficult it is to go to school and compete in a collegiate sport.  Being a student-athlete is a full-time job. "It's all about finding a balance, Faith says.  "The quicker you find it, the better off you will be.  If you are going to be successful in both you have to be careful not to over-commit yourself. After you figure that out, it helps a ton."

The Cowgirls enter Thursday's match with Utah State having gone 8-4 during the non-conference season.  They are bringing a two-match winning streak to the match after a pair of victories over Wichita State and South Dakota last weekend at the Shocker Volleyball Classic in Wichita.

Faith believes it was a productive pre-conference schedule.  "I think it was really good because it helped us find ourselves.  We have really good players and athletes, and I think the preseason did a good job of helping us become a unit.  We are feeling a lot more comfortable with each other on the court.  I thought the Creighton match was especially important because that match was more like conference play.

"We are really anxious to start the conference, especially at home," she continues.  "Home court is big for us.  First, we have an incredible fan base.  I think it is the best in the league.  We get a lot of energy in particular from the men's swimmers who come to all of our matches.  Secondly, altitude plays into it as well.  Teams may say they are not thinking about it, but we know they are."

When she takes the court Friday, Waitsman will be appearing in her 94^th match for the Cowgirls.  She has played over 300 sets in her career.  In last season's opener against Utah State, she produced a career high 13 total blocks.  She posted a career-high 14 digs in last week's win over Wichita State.

Faith is serious when she says she will hate leaving Wyoming and the program.  "Wyoming is special in so many ways.  Each year I've found something more I love.  The culture of the state, that blue collar, Cowboy mentality, is so special, regardless of what happens, we will work harder than you.  I love that.

"I will miss the community.  I so enjoy running into people at the grocery store I don't even know who tell me what a great game you guys had last night.  There are a lot of similarities between Wyoming and Arkansas.  Both are extremely welcoming.  Of course there is the southern hospitality at home, and the people here are so genuine.

"I've been extremely lucky to have great teammates.  I will miss them and this place a ton."