LARAMIE – Players put their names in the NCAA transfer portal for a variety of reasons.
 
Jordan Sandy did it for the right reason.
 
While starting her volleyball career at Nevada, the former Jordan Schwartz became engaged to Wyoming offensive lineman Luke Sandy.
 
The young couple, who first met as friends at Legend High School in Parker, Colo., before connecting over a summer break while in college, set their wedding date for June 28, 2024.
 
Jordan and Luke discussed which spousal transfer option would be most feasible for to attend the same university while continuing their Division I athletic careers together.
 
"One huge reason I went into the portal is because I was getting married and Luke and I really value that being married means we need to be together," Jordan said. "I played my freshman and sophomore year, I played every match except like one or two, so I had a lot more stats than he did. We just thought it was in our best interest that I go into the portal, and I could have more options."
 
Timing is everything.
 
UW volleyball coach Kaylee Prigge lost a standout middle blocker to the portal and welcomed Jordan, a talented Mountain West rival during her time with the Wolf Pack, with open arms to the program.
 
"I remember her from club and the initial recruiting process. She's at Nevada in our conference and was ranked third in our league in blocks per set. I thought it was a great add," Prigge said. "We want kids that want to be here, and she wanted to be here. That was really cool. It became a no-brainer.
 
"Jordan had experiences knowing what it's like to be an opponent in our gym when the environment is great. There was a lot there that made it an easy choice for us and her."
 
Moments after throwing a pancake block on a scout team defensive lineman during one of the final periods of Tuesday night's practice, Luke laughed when asked how relieved he was to not have been asked to transfer to Nevada to be with his new bride.
 
"That was a huge plus," Luke said. "I'm very blessed she was able to transfer out here."
 
The Cowgirls are 4-0 in the MW after facing the adversity of a non-conference schedule littered with power programs and two ranked opponents. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are on a three-game losing skid entering Saturday's home game against San Jose State.
 
The Sandy's understand the highs and lows that come with playing sports at this level while also working on meaningful degrees – Jordan is majoring in criminal justice and Luke is majoring in mechanical engineering.
 
"We can heavily lean on each other," Jordan said. "It's a little different because I play a ton more games than he does, but I can't say I'd survive super well in a football game. I know how hard what he does is and he knows how hard what I do is. We've balanced this schedule. It has taken a little while, I think last year was a little rough, especially being injured, but it's just so nice to share that with one another.
 
"And it helps because we get to navigate what we eat. I'm a big cook at home and I do my best to feed an O-lineman. That's been really hard."
 
The Sandy's finished their practices in the UniWyo Sports Complex and War Memorial Stadium, respectively, a little after 6 p.m. Tuesday. They planned to stay up later than normal studying for exams on Wednesday morning. Then after classes Wednesday they returned to their facilities for treatment, meetings and practice.
 
Jordan and the Cowgirls have a massive home game against conference co-leader Utah State at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and host another contender in Boise State at noon on Saturday.
 
Luke and the Pokes are determined to get the football season back on track against the Spartans at 5 p.m. Saturday.
 
"Thursday after practice I'm going straight over there to watch her," Luke said. "I can't really watch her on Saturday because I have (football) obligations. She's going to kill it. Hopefully we're going to get after San Jose out here and it's going to be a great day for both of us."
 
Jordan, a 6-foot-3 senior, racked up 280 kills and 215 blocks at Nevada. She made just one appearance during her first season at UW and sat out the remainder of the year due to injury.
 
Luke, after playing in all 13 games in 2023, missed nine games in 2024 due to injury.
 
"I've never really been injured in my career or my whole life, so it was a huge change," Jordan said. "It was mostly finding what I could still contribute even though I couldn't play or practice. It was pretty difficult. I had a ton of support. My husband was also injured so we were kind of in it together."
 
During the spring, Jordan was rehabbing alongside fellow middle blocker Evelyn Udezue, who also missed the bulk of the 2024 season with a similar injury. The two became close friends and competed for the starting spot next to all-MW middle blocker Sarah Holcomb.
 
Udezue emerged as the starter early in this season but suffered a torn ACL against Colorado State. Jordan came in and helped the Cowgirls topple the rival Rams in five sets to open conference play.
 
"It was really hard to watch that happen," Jordan said of Udezue's season-ending injury. "The whole game was really emotional because of the Border War, because of Evelyn. I think it just speaks volumes to how connected our team is. Our whole team was really impacted by her getting hurt. We just were really excited for her to get back and even competing with her for this spot she's my best friend and seeing her succeed is so fun and I really did enjoy watching her play."
 
Luke is healthy again and plays a key role for Jay Sawvel. The 6-2, 304-pound redshirt junior is rotating with Wes King at left guard and backs up Jack Walsh at center.
 
UW's offensive line is determined to get the team in the winner's circle again after a disappointing homecoming performance against UNLV.
 
"In the offensive line room, if we keep putting our head down and keep going to work the rest of the team is going to follow us," Luke said. "We're going to start picking it up here and I'm foreseeing a good future for our football team."
 
Following the conclusion of the critical volleyball home stand on Saturday, Jordan will be changing into her over-the-top football game day wardrobe and heading to the War to support Luke.
 
"I go all out. I have a ginormous foam hat and a foam finger," Jordan said. "I love cheering for him and he usually looks for me when he's on the field and we'll give each other a wave. It's so much fun because when I was at Nevada, I never got to watch him play, just on my TV or on my phone."
 
Luke and UW fans are grateful Jordan was able to transfer and make Laramie the happy couple's home.
 
"She gets what I'm going through out here at practice because she goes through the same thing every day," Luke said. "She's my best friend and I love spending every day with her."
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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