LARAMIE – The Cowgirls admittedly had a nervous start to the season.
 
Wyoming and Texas Tech were tied after an early feeling-out process, but the visitors clearly had the momentum after taking the second set 25-14.
 
Everything changed as Kaylee Prigge's team, which she described as playing "flat" early in the match, walked to the other side of the court for the third set.
 
About 1,300 students, mostly freshmen attending their first UW sporting event, brought their energy to the Brown and Gold side of the court.
 
"We really appreciate having a student section. They create the environment and energy that we need," star outside hitter Paige Lauterwasser said. "I think switching sides, being closer to them actually helped us with their cheering. I think how the sport is growing as a whole across the country, I hope they get addicted to volleyball."
 
The Cowgirls certainly made some new fans after responding to the challenge by blitzing the Red Raiders 25-11 and 25-15 over the next two sets to win the match.
 
UW followed up last Friday's marquee win over a Big 12 opponent with a 25-20, 25-21, 25-17 sweep of reigning Summit League champion St. Thomas on Sunday to finish the Rumble in the Rockies tournament 2-0.
 
"I'm really proud of the performance in sets three and four," Prigge said. "We talked about, OK, show me we've learned something and we can't exhale after the third and our foot is on the gas and can we be consistent all the way through set four. I thought they did that.
 
"I still thought Tech responded. That's a good team; they're going to be competitive. I'm proud of the way we didn't just fold when they punched back in that fourth (set)."
 
The Cowgirls will face a bigger challenge in their first road match of the season at 7 p.m. Friday at Utah. The Utes (3-0) return 13 players from last season's NCAA Tournament team, including first-team all-Big 12 and honorable mention AVCA All-American outside hitter Kamryn Gibadlo.
 
UW will also face Eastern Illinois at noon Saturday and Long Beach State at noon Sunday in the Utah Classic.
 
"Our coaches created our (non-conference) schedule so it would challenge us," Lauterwasser said. "I think there are going to be teams down the road that are more closely aligned to us in skill that are going to challenge us. Even if we do take a loss or two, preparing us for conference is the biggest part of preseason."
 
Lauterwasser was named the Mountain West offensive player of the week after eclipsing 1,000 career points during the Rumble in the Rockies. The two-time all-MW selection led the Cowgirls with 27 kills and 4.14 points per set while hitting .500 during the 2-0 start.
 
"Volleyball to its core is a team sport. I can't be good without my teammates and how they show up for me," Lauterwasser said. "I just want to be my best for them. Being competitive helps with that and I want to win."
 
Emma Winter (.559) ranks first in the MW and Lauterwasser (.500) ranks second in hitting percentage through the first weekend of action. Reagan Sharp (1.20) and Rylee Heinz (1.14) are first and second, respectively, in blocks and Rya Fingerlin (4.14) is second in digs.
 
UW setters Sara Quigley and Maddy Stucky have combined for 77 assists. True freshmen middle blockers Ruby Jensen and Rylee Heinz combined for 22 kills during the opening weekend.
 
"I walked in with all the fans, and it was just crazy, electric and so exciting. I loved it," Jensen said of making her debut in front of a crowd of 2,402 in the Arena-Auditorium. "(Beating Texas Tech) definitely sets a fire for us, and I think it's monumental."
 
If the Cowgirls can consistently perform like they did over the final five sets of the Rumble in the Rockies, this will be a special season.
 
"We kind of just let ourselves play how we know how to play," Lauterwasser said. "I think it's hard to stop us when we do that."
 
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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