BOULDER, Colo. (Sept. 15, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team closed the CU Buffs Invitational with a bang Sunday on the road against the host school Colorado. After dropping the first set to CU 25-20, the Cowgirls rallied to dominate the final three sets, 25-20, 25-19 and 25-10 to come away with the victory.
Wyoming (6-2) did not trail in either the second or fourth sets in the win and was able to rally after an early deficit in the third. After trailing 14-13 in the third and eventually being tied at 17-17 in the set, the Cowgirls closed on an 8-2 run to take the third and a two sets to one lead in the match. In the fourth, it was all UW as it jumped out to a 9-1 and didn't look back from there in the impressive close-out set.
Individually, Paige Lauterwasser once again led the Cowgirl offense as she finished the match with 11 kills. For her efforts this weekend, Lauterwasser was named to the all-tournament team after the match. Emma Winter also finished in double figure kills with 10 while hitting .381. Kayla Mazzocca and Sarah Holcomb added nine and eight kills respectively, and hit .471 and .429, respectively in the victory. The duo also combined for 13 total blocks against the Buffaloes. Mazzocca recorded a match-high seven total blocks while Holcomb added six.
Kasia Partyka added another double-double to her 2024 tally as she led the way with 34 assists to go along with 12 digs. Partyka also added seven kills and was one of four Cowgirls with an ace in the win. Libero Sierra Grizzle's 14 digs led the Cowgirls in the contest while Skylar Erickson and Kendal Rivera chipped in with five each.
Wyoming hit a season-best .301 in the win. It marks the first time this season that the Cowgirls have hit above .300 as a team. CU hit just .105 in the match. After the first set, the Cowgirls hit .313 in the final three sets, including .375 in the third and fourth combined. Colorado, meanwhile, hit a paltry .022 in the final three sets.
The Cowgirls had 16 more points and eight more kills than CU in the match. UW also had a 13-4 advantage in team blocks. Colorado edged the Cowgirls 5-4 in service aces.
Next up, Wyoming will play at home for the first time in 2024 at the UniWyo Invite. The Cowgirls begin their three-match week with a Thursday night contest against Coppin State at 6. Wyoming plays UAlbany at 6:30 Friday night before closing with a 1 p.m., match against Utah Saturday to close the tournament.
-WYO-
