Cowgirls Rally for Second Five-Set Victory of the Week

* University of Wyoming press release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., – It was another five-set thriller for the Wyoming volleyball team Saturday afternoon at Air Force. The Cowgirls rallied after losing the first set to win their second five-setter of the week. Set scores went 21-25, 27-25, 25-13, 23-25 and 15-8.

After dropping the first set, UW (6-10, 2-2 MW) looked to be in trouble in the second as well, trailing by as many as six, 10-4 early in the frame and trailing late, 23-20. However, from there, the Cowgirls responded with four-straight points to take the 24-23 lead and then when the set was tied at 25-25, scored back-to-back points from Wyoming gave it the comeback to knot up the match at one set each.

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The third set was all Cowgirls as they broke open a 6-6 tie by going on a 10-2 run and taking a commanding 16-8 lead. From there, Wyoming continued to outscore the Falcons, ending the third set on a 9-5 streak. The fourth was another hard-fought set, with the Falcons securing the set win late, by ending with three consecutive points to force the decisive fifth set.

In the fifth, the Cowgirls scored five of the first six points to jump out to an early advantage and then at 6-3, went on to end the frame on another 9-5 run, controlling the entirety of the set and coming away with their second five-set win of the week on the road.

Naya Shimé was once again fantastic in the win for the Cowgirls, recording her second 20-plus kill performance of the week, as she led the way with 20 kills while hitting .361. Wyoming hit a solid .292 in the win while holding Air Force to just a .145 clip. That offensive production was the difference in the match as both teams registered eight service aces and Air Force holding an 8-5 advantage in total blocks in the contest.

In total, the Cowgirls had four student-athletes with double-digit kills as KC McMahon had 13, whilst hitting .476, Tierney Barlow added 12 and hit over .500 on the day at .550. Corin Carruth chipped in with 10 kills of her own in the victory. Carruth also tallied her second double-double of the week as she added 10 digs. Kasia Partyka joined her with a double-double as she added 10 digs of her own and pacing the Cowgirls with 55 assists, her second 50-assist output of the week.

Hailey Zuroske had a team-best 13 digs on her night while Barlow led the team with four total blocks. At the service line, it was Carruth who led the way with a trio of service aces while Skylar Erickson had two. Both teams had high service errors, with UW recording 15 and AFA tallying 14.

With its two wins this weekend, the Cowgirls now return home for a pair contests next week. UW opens the week with a Thursday night, Oct. 6 contest hosting San Jose State at 6:30 p.m. The Cowgirls will close the weekend homestand at noon Oct. 8 against Nevada.

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