LARAMIE – Parenting is hard.
 
As Ugo Udezue was getting ready to watch his daughter, Evelyn Udezue, play for the Wyoming volleyball team last Thursday night, the former Cowboy basketball standout made it sound kind of easy in this case.
 
"She was very quiet, very disciplined. She never had a B in her life, always A's," Ugo said when asked what Evelyn was like as a child. "She was an amazing kid. You never had to tell her what to do for her chores. She acted like an adult instead of a kid."
 
Evelyn has grown into an impact player for UW.
 
The 6-foot-3 redshirt sophomore middle blocker's early-season highlights include hitting .357 in four-set match against Mississippi and tallying 18 points in a three-set win over Rhode Island.
 
Through non-conference play, Evelyn leads the Cowgirls with 13 service aces. She tied a program record for most aces in a three-set match with seven against Rhode Island.
 
"It's a blessing for sure," said Evelyn, who has started the last eight matches. "It's so exciting to be able to make an impact however I can. I feel really grateful."
 
Nothing has come easy for Evelyn since joining the program in 2023.
 
She played sparingly as a true freshman before accruing some valuable experience by starting all three games of UW's NIVC run that postseason. A stress reaction in her left shin bone forced Evelyn to miss the entire 2024 campaign while going through a tedious rehab process.
 
"She worked her tail off," UW head coach Kaylee Prigge said. "That's really hard, more mentally than physically, even though it is really tough physically. This is who she is. She was consistent about everything she had to do, which was a lot of really mundane things, to get back where she needed to be. I'm excited for her because the sky is the limit for her and she gets to finally see all her hard work pay off, which is really fun. …
 
"I won't complain about her being around longer because we love her."
 
Ugo averaged 20.5 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Cowboys during the 1998-99 season to earn all-WAC honors before injuries curtailed his production. He was still an important leader and role player as a senior on UW's 2001-02 Mountain West championship team.
 
The Nigerian native became an NBA player agent after graduation and started the Continental Basketball League in Africa. He also formed Africa for Africa Sports, a sports merchandising and apparel company.
 
In between watching Evelyn compete in the Cowgirls' three games at the UniWyo Invite, Ugo attended one of Sundance Wicks' practices along with another program legend, Josh Adams.
 
"I was excited, I was happy for her," Ugo said of watching Evelyn following in his footsteps as a UW student-athlete. "My daughter always knew what she wanted and all I can do is support her."
 
When Ugo was the big man on campus, he said he took a public relations class taught by Dr. Cindy Price Schultz. He spoke at one of her classes last week that Evelyn is taking.
 
"He comes whenever he can to support me and even when he can't he's watching the games and giving me feedback," Evelyn said. Ugo also attended UW's match at TCU this season. "It's awesome and his support has meant a lot."
 
Even when Evelyn was on the bench or out of action the bleachers inside the UniWyo Sports Complex were filled by her extended family the past two seasons.
 
"It's funny because I didn't even expect them to come when I was injured," Evelyn said of the passionate family fan club. "Seeing them at every game and feeling that support is amazing. They're awesome."
 
Evelyn's mom is from Laramie, and she also spent her formative years here before attending high school in Brighton, Colo. At UW's elite camp, she grabbed the coaching staff's attention by touching 10 feet, 2 inches during the vertical jump test.
 
"At like 16 and we were like, who is this kid?" Prigge said.
 
Then-UW head coach Chad Callihan put it together that Evelyn had attended middle school in Laramie with his son and won a Good Samaritan leadership and service award.
 
"She touches 10-2 at 16 and she's got that award at the Laramie Middle School. This is a no-brainer already," Prigge said of recruiting the homegrown prospect. "One of the biggest things about Evelyn is her athleticism stands out and anyone with eyes can see her potential and how good of a volleyball player she is, but she is such a good person that it's like a coach's dream.
 
"She has had a little bit of a rough go but she's finally getting to see all of her hard work come to fruition, which is really exciting and fun. I'm just proud of her."
 
During her prep career at Brighton High School, Evelyn was a first-team all-state selection and the East Metro Athletic Conference Player of the Year her senior season. She was also a four-time first team academic all-state honoree.
 
"I remember very vividly her official visit being at dinner at (Wyoming's) Rib & Chop (House) and just kind of understanding the scope of her recruiting process and who else was in the picture," Prigge said. "We're just fortunate Ugo went to school here and really her mom's entire extended family still lives in Laramie and how connected she is and how much she wants to be here.
 
"That's something I've learned in my time is the kids you have to sell it's never really going to work out. The kids that really want to be here are the best kids that thrive here."
 
Evelyn is right where she always wanted to be. And wearing a UW letterman jacket to match her dad's.
 
"It has been a dream," Evelyn said. "I have pictures of me when I was just a toddler coming here and watching volleyball."
 
The Cowgirls open Mountain West play against Colorado State on Thursday in the UniWyo Sports Complex (6:30 p.m., MW Network).
 
"They've always been our rivals so it's in my blood, rooted in," Evelyn said. "It's going to be a fun one."
 
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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