LARAMIE – For some teams it would have been easy to decline the postseason invitation and turn the page to final exams and then a holiday break.
 
There's no place the Cowgirls would rather be than on the court together.
 
Wyoming, galvanized around five seniors after a rocky regular season, swept a pair of NIVC matches last week at the UniWyo Sports Complex and will play Arizona in the tournament's Great 8 on Wednesday in Tucson, Ariz. (6 p.m., ESPN+).
 
"I don't think any of the seniors want this to end," Kayla Mazzocca said. "This is our last ride so we're going to ride it out as long as we can."
 
Mazzocca had nine kills and five blocks and Kasia Partyka had a season-high 54 assists and added three blocks during last Friday's thrilling five-set victory over Utah Valley in the Super 16 round.
 
Macey Boggs, Kendal Rivera and Sonte Stewart were the other three seniors who were able to take a December curtain call in front of UW's loyal fan base before packing for Tucson.
 
"It's really important for us to finish the season on a high note," said Partyka, who was named to the all-Mountain West team along with sophomore outside hitter Paige Lauterwasser. "Postseason play is one of the expectations this program has for us. It's important for the seniors and it's also important to do it for those underclassmen that are still going to be here to prove to them that we can do well in this tournament."
 
After going 8-3 in non-conference play, including a dominant win over Colorado in Boulder, the Cowgirls went 7-11 in the MW, including two forfeits and four five-set losses, and did not make the conference tournament.
 
Second-year head coach Kaylee Prigge was away from the team for a month while on maternity leave. Associate head coach Becky Baker filled in during a tough stretch in the schedule.
 
UW also had cluster injuries at a couple of key positions.
 
"This group has really been resilient when it comes to adversity and staying together and overcoming that, which has been really cool," Prigge said. "(The seniors) are leaving a very positive legacy on our team, all in very different ways, but they're great people, great representations of our program.
 
"I'm excited for what's next for all of them individually and getting to be in their lives forever and getting to bridge that gap with them as far as what's next. They're going to crush it."
 
Before moving on from UW, the seniors will try to keep the team moving forward in the NIVC bracket.
 
If the Cowgirls upset Arizona, one of the "First Four Out" of the NCAA Tournament, they would play the Arkansas State-Northern Colorado winner in the Fab Four at 6 p.m. Thursday in Tucson.
 
"Playing Arizona is going to be challenging but a good opportunity to see what we're up against and where we stand," Boggs said. "We have something to prove so it's our opportunity to do it."
 
UW defeated Idaho State in the opening round in four sets before rallying to win the fourth and fifth sets against Utah Valley. The Cowgirls are 6-6 in five-set matches this season and like their chances if they can push the Wildcats to the limit.
 
"Last year at this time when we lost to Montana State in the Great 8 of the NIVC we hadn't been in a five-set match since mid-September against UNLV the first time we saw them at home in conference play," Prigge noted. "This year has been a little bit of a different story. We've been in five sets a lot and we haven't always come out getting the result that we want to in those matches. That has been frustrating at times for our entire team. Honestly, Friday was great to be in that moment again and handle a fifth set really well. …
 
"We're going to embrace the moment. That's why we want to play in these postseason tournaments. It's a great opportunity to see where we're at against a great opponent."
 
Arizona is 21-9 overall and 11-4 at home. The Wildcats, led by all-Big 12 first team selections Jaelyn Hodge and Jordan Wilson, had a first-round bye and swept Pacific in the Super 16.

"We know that we're good," Mazzocca said. "Kaylee always says postseason is an expectation for this team. When we came up short of the Mountain West Tournament, we knew were going to go into the NIVC. Being able to continue playing volleyball means everything for the seniors."
 
UW's five seniors are bonded for life after helping Prigge establish a winning culture and setting even higher expectations for next season by mentoring the talented young core returning.
 
"They're my best friends, a couple of them I'll ask to be in my wedding someday," Boggs said of her classmates. "It's just super cool to have that friendship and to be able to play with them past the regular season."
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes. 
 
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