Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
UW roundup: Cowgirls fall to Utah State
By Wyoming Sports.org
Two second-half goals by Utah State were enough to hold off a late Wyoming rally and the Cowgirls fell to the Aggies 2-1 on Sunday at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
With the loss, the Cowgirls fall to 5-5-1 overall while Utah State improves to 5-5-1.
After a scoreless first half of soccer, Utah State notched the first score of the game in the 55th minute on an unassisted goal by Erin Salmon. The Aggies added to their lead with a penalty kick goal by Summer Tillotson in the 87th minute.
The Cowgirls got on the scoreboard late in the game and scored with six seconds remaining in the second half. The goal was junior Emily Layton’s sixth of the season and came from outside of the 18-yard box on as assist from sophomore Jerrica DiVincenzo. Unfortunately, the goal was too little, too late.
"We have to give credit to Utah State. They came out and played with more urgency and more purpose and they deserved to win," said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. "After seeing the progress we made while going 3-0-1 over the last two weeks on the road, it was disappointing to not play as well today. We have to regroup and get ready to open Mountain West Conference play next Friday against Air Force."
The Cowgirls will open the MWC season at home Friday, hosting Air Force at 3 p.m. They will continue action on Sunday against Boise State at 1 p.m., also at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
Korir paces Cowboys at Roy Griak Invite
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Wyoming senior Mark Korir finished in third place Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational.
The Cowboys and Cowgirls both finished 12th in this competitive race. The Cowboys ran against four Top 25 teams and they all followed the winning Division II Adams State Grizzlies with a team total of 75 points. Other ranked teams were 29th-ranked Iowa State, 30th-ranked Brigham Young and ninth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers finished second, third and fourth respectively.
The Wyoming men finished with a total of 320 points. In the 8k race, Korir finished in 24 minutes, 10 seconds, a season best and only 15 seconds behind the winner from Auburn, Elkanah Kibet.
“It was a loaded field with some very talented runners from across the nation,” said head track and field coach Don Yentes. “Mark ran a great race, as he again made his name heard at the national level.”
Senior Michael Huntington remained consistent for the cowboys with his 43rd-place finish and time of 25:17. He was followed by freshman Eliud Chirchir in 79th-place and a time of 25:50. Sophomore Seth Grossman and senior Brett Schuler rounded out the scoring for the Cowboys with their 86th and 109th-place finishes respectively.
On the women’s side, ninth-ranked Minnesota was followed by fifth-ranked Arizona State with team scores of 31 and 46 points respectively for first and second place overall.
The Cowgirl harriers finished with a team total of 366 points and a 12th-place finish out of 23 teams. They were led by junior Emily Higgins, who finished in 33rd place and a time of 22:23 in the 6k race. Sophomore Alysha Davis ran one of her best races as she crossed the tape in 43rd place.
“Emily started the race out a little slower than usual, but really came on at the end and finished strong,” said Yentes. “Alysha Davis ran a very good race as she continues to gain maturity and strength.”
“All in all, it was a very good learning experience for both teams and they represented Wyoming well against the best in the nation,” said Yentes.
Wyoming returns to action at the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday.
Cowboy golfers finish eighth
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The University of Wyoming men’s golf team concluded a strong performance on Saturday, placing eighth in a very strong 16-team field at the University of New Mexico William H. Tucker Invitational.
Wyoming finished with a three-round total of 901 -- 37 over par. The Cowboys defeated Mountain West Conference foes Utah by three strokes and Air Force by 21 strokes. Another MWC opponent, UNLV, captured the team title with a 12-under par total of 852 to defeat host New Mexico by 11 strokes.
Cowboy sophomore Phil Henzlik was Wyoming’s top individual finisher, placing 20th out of 92 individuals. Henzlik shot a 54-hole total of five-over par 221. Fellow Cowboy sophomores Gabe Maier and Aaron Johnson each finished tied for 34th place, shooting nine-over par 225 totals for the three rounds. The individual tournament title ended in a tie between Derek Tolan of Colorado and Eddie Olson of UNLV, who both shot five-under par 211 for the 54-hole event.
“I’m pleased that we finished in the upper half of the field and hung in there with some very good teams,” said Cowboy head coach Joe Jensen. “It is always good to get wins over other Mountain West Conference schools (Air Force and Utah). This was great experience for our young team and we just need to continue doing what we’re doing. We showed good balance as a team with our results and everyone contributed.”
Wyoming’s next fall tournament will be a new fall event hosted by the Cowboys in Palm Desert, Calif. The Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate will be Saturday and Sunday at the Classic Club in Palm Desert.
Two second-half goals by Utah State were enough to hold off a late Wyoming rally and the Cowgirls fell to the Aggies 2-1 on Sunday at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
With the loss, the Cowgirls fall to 5-5-1 overall while Utah State improves to 5-5-1.
After a scoreless first half of soccer, Utah State notched the first score of the game in the 55th minute on an unassisted goal by Erin Salmon. The Aggies added to their lead with a penalty kick goal by Summer Tillotson in the 87th minute.
The Cowgirls got on the scoreboard late in the game and scored with six seconds remaining in the second half. The goal was junior Emily Layton’s sixth of the season and came from outside of the 18-yard box on as assist from sophomore Jerrica DiVincenzo. Unfortunately, the goal was too little, too late.
"We have to give credit to Utah State. They came out and played with more urgency and more purpose and they deserved to win," said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. "After seeing the progress we made while going 3-0-1 over the last two weeks on the road, it was disappointing to not play as well today. We have to regroup and get ready to open Mountain West Conference play next Friday against Air Force."
The Cowgirls will open the MWC season at home Friday, hosting Air Force at 3 p.m. They will continue action on Sunday against Boise State at 1 p.m., also at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
Korir paces Cowboys at Roy Griak Invite
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Wyoming senior Mark Korir finished in third place Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational.
The Cowboys and Cowgirls both finished 12th in this competitive race. The Cowboys ran against four Top 25 teams and they all followed the winning Division II Adams State Grizzlies with a team total of 75 points. Other ranked teams were 29th-ranked Iowa State, 30th-ranked Brigham Young and ninth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers finished second, third and fourth respectively.
The Wyoming men finished with a total of 320 points. In the 8k race, Korir finished in 24 minutes, 10 seconds, a season best and only 15 seconds behind the winner from Auburn, Elkanah Kibet.
“It was a loaded field with some very talented runners from across the nation,” said head track and field coach Don Yentes. “Mark ran a great race, as he again made his name heard at the national level.”
Senior Michael Huntington remained consistent for the cowboys with his 43rd-place finish and time of 25:17. He was followed by freshman Eliud Chirchir in 79th-place and a time of 25:50. Sophomore Seth Grossman and senior Brett Schuler rounded out the scoring for the Cowboys with their 86th and 109th-place finishes respectively.
On the women’s side, ninth-ranked Minnesota was followed by fifth-ranked Arizona State with team scores of 31 and 46 points respectively for first and second place overall.
The Cowgirl harriers finished with a team total of 366 points and a 12th-place finish out of 23 teams. They were led by junior Emily Higgins, who finished in 33rd place and a time of 22:23 in the 6k race. Sophomore Alysha Davis ran one of her best races as she crossed the tape in 43rd place.
“Emily started the race out a little slower than usual, but really came on at the end and finished strong,” said Yentes. “Alysha Davis ran a very good race as she continues to gain maturity and strength.”
“All in all, it was a very good learning experience for both teams and they represented Wyoming well against the best in the nation,” said Yentes.
Wyoming returns to action at the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday.
Cowboy golfers finish eighth
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The University of Wyoming men’s golf team concluded a strong performance on Saturday, placing eighth in a very strong 16-team field at the University of New Mexico William H. Tucker Invitational.
Wyoming finished with a three-round total of 901 -- 37 over par. The Cowboys defeated Mountain West Conference foes Utah by three strokes and Air Force by 21 strokes. Another MWC opponent, UNLV, captured the team title with a 12-under par total of 852 to defeat host New Mexico by 11 strokes.
Cowboy sophomore Phil Henzlik was Wyoming’s top individual finisher, placing 20th out of 92 individuals. Henzlik shot a 54-hole total of five-over par 221. Fellow Cowboy sophomores Gabe Maier and Aaron Johnson each finished tied for 34th place, shooting nine-over par 225 totals for the three rounds. The individual tournament title ended in a tie between Derek Tolan of Colorado and Eddie Olson of UNLV, who both shot five-under par 211 for the 54-hole event.
“I’m pleased that we finished in the upper half of the field and hung in there with some very good teams,” said Cowboy head coach Joe Jensen. “It is always good to get wins over other Mountain West Conference schools (Air Force and Utah). This was great experience for our young team and we just need to continue doing what we’re doing. We showed good balance as a team with our results and everyone contributed.”
Wyoming’s next fall tournament will be a new fall event hosted by the Cowboys in Palm Desert, Calif. The Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate will be Saturday and Sunday at the Classic Club in Palm Desert.
One happy basketball family
The first Cowboy basketball alumni game was a huge success.For more on the story: http://wyomingsportscowboybb.blogspot.com/2008/09/brown-wins-alumni-game.html
Falcons fly by Cowboys
Turnovers forced the Wyoming coaching staff to use all four quarterbacks in the 45-16 loss to Bowling Green. For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/musical-quarterback-chair-leaves-all.html
Friday, September 26, 2008
Bearcats roll past Plainsmen
Scottsbluff scored 20 points in the third quarter and dominated the Laramie Plainsmen 23-0 Friday night at Deti Stadium.
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/bearcats-run-over-plainsmen.html
Cowgirls fall to Rams in five
By Wyoming Sports.org
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- In thrilling match on both sides, the Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team took the 13th-ranked Colorado State Rams to the brink, but came up short in five sets Friday night at Moby Arena.
The Rams, now 3-0 in league play and 11-1 overall, escaped with a 22-25, 25-13, 25-18, 21-25 and 15-9 victory. The loss dropped the Cowgirls to m1-2 in league play and 2-10 overall.
“I think our team played very hard against a very good team,” said UW head coach Carrie Yerty. “Our team is strong as long as we play as a team. We don’t have the big go-to person, but we have a lot of ankle bitters, and this team believes that they can win. They have pride of being a student-athlete at the University of Wyoming, for this team and I think that goes a long way. Tasha (Weishahn) set a wonderful match against a team that was ranked 13th in the country. We struggled in a few areas, but I think we can really grow and improve as a team from this.”
Two players finished the night in double-figures for the Cowgirls, led by sophomore Lauren Whitney, who had a team-high 14 kills, while hitting .303 and recording five digs. Dani Bedore followed with 10 kills and five total blocks, while Jenna Arneson added nine kills and five blocks. Weishahn had 45 assists as Wyoming hit .148 (48-27-142) and had 8.5 total team blocks.
Jaime Strauss led the way for Rams with 19 kills, seven digs and two blocks. Jacque Davisson added 12 kills and 12 digs followed by Tessa Nelson with 11 kills and Mekana Barnes with ten. CSU hit .294 for the matches and had 13 total team blocks.
Wyoming will be on the road for their next match as they travel to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Academy Falcons, on Oct. 4, beginning at 7 p.m.
Cowboy golfers seventh at Tucker Invitational
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-- After the opening two rounds of the William H. Tucker Invitational on Friday, the Cowboys found themselves in seventh place of 16 teams. The 54th annual invitational, which has historically featured some of the top golfers in the nation, is at the University of New Mexico’s Championship Course.
The Cowboys fired opening rounds of 293 (+5) and 299 (+11) for a two-round total of 592 (+16). The Cowboys trail New Mexico (-12), UNLV (-7), Ohio State (-3), Pepperdine (E), Colorado (+2) and BYU (+15).
Individually, sophomore Phil Henzlik is leading the Cowboys and sits in a tie for 20th place with a two-round total of 146 (+2). Sophomore Aaron Johnson trails Henzlik by just one stroke and is currently three-over par with a two round total of 147. Both Henzlik and Johnson shot season best rounds on the day, Henzlik with a second round 70 and Johnson with a first round 69. Henzlik’s 70 is a career best and Johnson’s 69 ties his career low.
“Through the first two rounds, we have been very competitive in a premier national field,” said UW head coach Joe Jensen. “With that said, I am a little disappointed with the way we closed. We left some big strokes out there down the stretch of the second round. We even had two guys triple bogey their last hole. If we would have finished a little better, we could easily be as many as 10 strokes better.
“Tomorrow will be a huge day for us as we have a real chance to do some great things in this tournament. If we come out and play like we are capable, we have a chance to beat some very good programs.”
The Tucker Invite will conclude Saturday with 18 holes, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- In thrilling match on both sides, the Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team took the 13th-ranked Colorado State Rams to the brink, but came up short in five sets Friday night at Moby Arena.
The Rams, now 3-0 in league play and 11-1 overall, escaped with a 22-25, 25-13, 25-18, 21-25 and 15-9 victory. The loss dropped the Cowgirls to m1-2 in league play and 2-10 overall.
“I think our team played very hard against a very good team,” said UW head coach Carrie Yerty. “Our team is strong as long as we play as a team. We don’t have the big go-to person, but we have a lot of ankle bitters, and this team believes that they can win. They have pride of being a student-athlete at the University of Wyoming, for this team and I think that goes a long way. Tasha (Weishahn) set a wonderful match against a team that was ranked 13th in the country. We struggled in a few areas, but I think we can really grow and improve as a team from this.”
Two players finished the night in double-figures for the Cowgirls, led by sophomore Lauren Whitney, who had a team-high 14 kills, while hitting .303 and recording five digs. Dani Bedore followed with 10 kills and five total blocks, while Jenna Arneson added nine kills and five blocks. Weishahn had 45 assists as Wyoming hit .148 (48-27-142) and had 8.5 total team blocks.
Jaime Strauss led the way for Rams with 19 kills, seven digs and two blocks. Jacque Davisson added 12 kills and 12 digs followed by Tessa Nelson with 11 kills and Mekana Barnes with ten. CSU hit .294 for the matches and had 13 total team blocks.
Wyoming will be on the road for their next match as they travel to Colorado Springs to take on the Air Force Academy Falcons, on Oct. 4, beginning at 7 p.m.
Cowboy golfers seventh at Tucker Invitational
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-- After the opening two rounds of the William H. Tucker Invitational on Friday, the Cowboys found themselves in seventh place of 16 teams. The 54th annual invitational, which has historically featured some of the top golfers in the nation, is at the University of New Mexico’s Championship Course.
The Cowboys fired opening rounds of 293 (+5) and 299 (+11) for a two-round total of 592 (+16). The Cowboys trail New Mexico (-12), UNLV (-7), Ohio State (-3), Pepperdine (E), Colorado (+2) and BYU (+15).
Individually, sophomore Phil Henzlik is leading the Cowboys and sits in a tie for 20th place with a two-round total of 146 (+2). Sophomore Aaron Johnson trails Henzlik by just one stroke and is currently three-over par with a two round total of 147. Both Henzlik and Johnson shot season best rounds on the day, Henzlik with a second round 70 and Johnson with a first round 69. Henzlik’s 70 is a career best and Johnson’s 69 ties his career low.
“Through the first two rounds, we have been very competitive in a premier national field,” said UW head coach Joe Jensen. “With that said, I am a little disappointed with the way we closed. We left some big strokes out there down the stretch of the second round. We even had two guys triple bogey their last hole. If we would have finished a little better, we could easily be as many as 10 strokes better.
“Tomorrow will be a huge day for us as we have a real chance to do some great things in this tournament. If we come out and play like we are capable, we have a chance to beat some very good programs.”
The Tucker Invite will conclude Saturday with 18 holes, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Alumni basketball game set
It will be turn back the Cowboy basketball clock day Saturday at the Arena-Auditorium. Some of the greatest players in Cowboy basketball history will return to their old stomping grounds for an alumni basketball game.For more on the story: http://wyomingsportscowboybb.blogspot.com/2008/09/alumni-game-to-bring-former-cowboys.html
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Laramie hosts Scottsbluff
Plainsmen looking for second straight win against Scottsbluff at Deti Stadium.
http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainsmen-looking-for-two-straight-wins.html
http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainsmen-looking-for-two-straight-wins.html
Cowgirls to face No. 13 CSU
Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming coach Carrie Yerty talks to sophomore Lauren Whitney during a timeout in a recent home match.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
First-year head volleyball coach Carrie Yerty has had to cram a lot of knowledge about the Wyoming volleyball program in a short time.
One thing she didn’t know until Tuesday was the meaning of the Border War.
Yerty’s Cowgirls will take on Colorado State Friday night at 7 p.m. in Moby Arena in the first meeting this season between the two rivals. It wasn’t that Yerty was unfamiliar with the rivalry, she was just unaware of the terminology. That goes with a Wyoming-Colorado State matchup in any sport.
She knows now.
“From what I understand, this rivalry is huge and there will be really jacked-up emotions on both sides of the net,” Yerty said.
The competition hasn’t been very even as of late, with the Rams, a consistent Top 20 program, on a more victorious side. CSU is 2-0 in Mountain West Conference play (10-1 overall), ranked 13th in the national ratings.
The Cowgirls, 1-1 in league play and 2-9 overall, are riding a little wave of momentum coming off a three-game win over Utah last Saturday.
“I think it was really exciting for our program, because we hadn’t beat them in the last (21) tries,” Yerty said of the win over the Utes. “It was really exciting for our program because we have been asking our seniors to help lay a foundation for our future, so that we can continue to recruit and get better. We’ve been trying very, very hard. It’s nice when you see all of the training and the hard work pay off. Those seniors will never forget that match.”
CSU has won 20 straight matches against the Cowgirls, but Yerty said that she is one of those people who believe that on any give day, anybody can be beaten.
“You have to prepare and I think you have to train and work hard,” she said. “Then you go out on the court and you put your best foot forward and you let the pieces fall where they may. We have been focusing so much on being able to be composed and follow a game plan, and regardless of winning or losing, be able to walk off the court knowing that we’ve done our job. Against Utah, it all fell into place. We beat a very good team. For us, that is a very big win.”
Yerty is also not unfamiliar with the CSU program, led by Tom Hilbert. Yerty said that she and Hilbert go way back to win she was a player for Washington State and Herbert was a coach at Idaho. Yerty used to work Hilbert’s summer camps.
“To me, it is just another game,” Yerty said. “I don’t know if I have the Border War etched in my mind right now probably like the other people in the state of Wyoming. I know my girls are very excited for it. I know Colorado State is going to be taking us very seriously after we played so well against Utah. We’re trying to stay even keel. There is not a match that is a better win or a lesser win in our conference. A win is a win.”
The Rams are led by Jaime Strauss, who is averaging 3.28 kills and 1.74 digs per game. She is followed by middle hitter Mekana Barnes, who is adding 3.08 kills and 1.48 blocks per game.
“They have one of the best middles in the country returning and I know that they are going to execute their game plan very well,” Yerty said.
The Cowgirls continue to be led by sophomore outside hitter Dani Bedore, who is averaging 3.02 kills, which is 10th in the MWC, and 1.59 digs per set. She is followed by sophomore Lauren Whitney, who is adding 2.71 kills and almost one dig per set.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Cowgirls finish 12th at Ron Moore
Wyoming freshman Juanita Rico was 13th at the Ron Moore Invitational/UW photo.
By Wyoming Sports.org
DENVER -- The Wyoming Cowgirl golf team finished in 12th place on Wednesday at the Ron Moore Invitational.
The Cowgirls tallied up 144 holes on the road trip and finished off the tournament that was won by the University of Denver with a total of 925 strokes (+61). After a tough second round, the Cowgirls fought back and finished strong with a team score Wednesday of 305 (+17).
“It’s been a long week of golf for our girls and I am proud of how they played better today,” said head coach Josey Stender. “We had a tough time putting today and that’s an area where I believe we can improve, but it was nice to end on a good note.”
Freshman Juanita Rico finished the tournament tied for 13th-place, her best finish of her young career and tied the fourth best all-time event score for the Cowgirls with her 222 (+6). Rico in the opening round shot a career best 70 (-2) and followed it up with two identical 76’s (+4). In today’s round she really battled and answered her two back nine bogey’s with birdies on the next hole but was unable to keep the streak, with four unanswered bogeys.
“Juanita did a really nice job for us this road trip and finished the tournament strong,” said Stender. “She stuck with some of the best in the region and it really pays credit to her talent and more importantly her work ethic. She has done a great job of adjusting to the college game and I am excited to see her progress.”
Junior Sarah Fogerty had a solid tournament for the Cowgirls as she finished the tournament in 26th-place with a final 229 (+13), it was her best finish of the season. Fellow junior Jonelle Martinez followed Fogerty with a final 236 (+20) which put her in a tie for 49th-place.
The Cowgirls will return to action Monday and Tuesday at the Heather Farr Memorial Tournament, hosted by the University of Colorado in Broomfield, Colo.
“We have to really move into next weekend with a positive attitude and know that we can play with these teams. As long as we play relaxed and within ourselves we will do well,” said Stender.
Cowgirls dominate first fall rodeo
by Milton Ontiveroz
UW Media Relations
It's only the first weekend of the 2008 season, but the University of Wyoming women's rodeo team already looks unbeatable.
Rodeo fans nationwide know about the Cowgirls' talented trio -- Nikki Steffes, TaNaye Carroll and Sarah Mulholland. UW Coach George Howard has added a fourth person to the mix who very well could be a rising point producer, making for a potent starting four: Freshman Heather Bregar.
The four UW women set the early tone in the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) when the Cowgirls easily won the opening fall rodeo of the season Sunday by a wide 330-point margin at the Central Wyoming College (CWC) event in Riverton.
Led by the program's all-time leading scorer, Steffes, a molecular biology senior from Vale, S.D., who won the CWC all-around title, the UW women piled up 595 points to outdistance runner-up Chadron State College. Northeastern Junior College placed third with 160 points.
Steffes, who won nine individual all-around titles in 10 separate rodeos in the region last year, is off to another fast start. Even though she didn't win an individual event in Riverton, she did score points in all three women's events -- the only woman competitor to pull it off.
After taking part of the summer off from competition after last June's College National Finals Rodeo, Steffes appears ready for another strong season after placing second in both goat tying and barrel racing and fourth in breakaway roping.
But the Cowgirls' overall depth clearly is what will define the team once again as the UW women seek their fourth consecutive CRMR championship.
Carroll, a kinesiology senior from La Junta, Colo., placed third in the goat tying average. Teammates Mulholland, a nursing senior from Richland Center, Wis., and Bregar, a kinesiology freshman from Lander, didn't make the average in their respective events, but they did score points in breakaway roping and goat tying events, respectively.
The UW men got off to a slow start to begin the season by placing fifth.
The host Rustlers of CWC, who have dominated the region the last four years, won their own rodeo with 475 points, topping second-year program Gillette College by just 65 points. Casper College was third with 370, Lamar Community College had 330 and the UW Cowboys scored 265.
Merritt Smith, a Gillette sophomore in animal science, won the saddle bronc competition, by placing second in the first round and then winning the short go. Only two other UW Cowboys managed to score points in an individual event.
John Franzen, a communications senior from Riverton, took sixth in steer wrestling, while teammate Will Smith, a rangeland ecology freshman from Del Norte, Colo., added team roping points.
The Cowgirls and Cowboys will be at the Sheridan College rodeo Friday through Sunday.
---
Women's team points -- University of Wyoming (UW) 595; Chadron State College (CSC) 265; Northeastern Junior College (NJC) 160; Sheridan College (SC) 150; Central Wyoming College (CWC) 130; Lamar Community College (LCC) 120; Gillette College 110; Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) 95; Colorado State University (CSU) 60.
Men's team points -- CWC, 475; GC, 410; CC, 370; LCC, 330; UW, 265; Otero Community College, 240; LCCC, 225; SC, 210; CSU, 140; EWC, 125; NJC, 70.Barrel racing -- Hannah Mills, NJC, 35.74; Nikki Steffes, UW, 35.85; Amanda Welch, GC, 36.01; Lizzi Snyder, UW, 36.28; Britta O'Keefe, UW, 36.34; Sydney Hettinger, UW, 36.56.
Breakaway roping -- Lisa Vroman, CSC, 6; Andie Scott, EWC, 6.5; Kelsey Scott, CSC, 6.6; Nikki Steffes, UW, 7.3; Jessie Smith, CSU, 16.4; Sarah Mulholland, UW, 2.8 (on one).
Goat tying -- Lacey Schuelke, SC, 18.2; Nikki Steffes, UW, 18.4; TaNaye Carroll, UW, 18.6; Lacey Harper, Front Range Community College, 18.8; Laura Waldo, CWC, 18.9; Heather Bregar, UW, 19.
Saddle bronc riding -- Merritt Smith, UW, 147; Riley Knoll, CWC, 126. Only two on two successful rides.Bareback riding -- Bryan Jones, CWC, 151; Paul Palczewski GC, 139; Warren Stairs, LCCC, 137; Ty Breuer, CWC, 136. Only four on two successful rides.
Bull riding -- Clay Culbreath, CSU, 78; Miles Spickelmier, LCCC, 75; Brandon Abel, LCCC, 72; Cameron Weddle NJC and Lane Sterling, GC, both 70; Kris Newman, CC, 65. All one ride.
Tie down roping -- Nathan Ramsey, Otero Community College, 19.8; Cole Dorenkamp, LCC, 21.7; Tyler Viles, UW, 22.1; Caleb Adle, NJC, 22.3; Cody McCluskey, NJC, 22.6; Brice Ingo, LCC, 22.4.
Steer wrestling -- Vance Steedley, SC, 10.4; Seth Bolerjack, UW, 10.9; Logan McDonald, EWC, 11.1; Cole Dorenkamp, LCC, 12.8; Tyrel Larsen, CC, 12.9; John Franzen, UW, 13.6.
Team roping -- Chad Nelson, UW/Beau Miller, GC, 14.1; O.J. Huxtable/Dustin Smith, CC, 15.7; Chelsen Willhoite, LCC/Nathan Ramsey, Otero Community College, 18.3; Tyrel Schroth/Tyrel Bonnet, SC, 20.7; Tyler Viles, UW/Jared Bilby, EWC, 31.6; Taylor Miniat/Clay Hill, CSU, 45.7.
UW Media Relations
It's only the first weekend of the 2008 season, but the University of Wyoming women's rodeo team already looks unbeatable.
Rodeo fans nationwide know about the Cowgirls' talented trio -- Nikki Steffes, TaNaye Carroll and Sarah Mulholland. UW Coach George Howard has added a fourth person to the mix who very well could be a rising point producer, making for a potent starting four: Freshman Heather Bregar.
The four UW women set the early tone in the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) when the Cowgirls easily won the opening fall rodeo of the season Sunday by a wide 330-point margin at the Central Wyoming College (CWC) event in Riverton.
Led by the program's all-time leading scorer, Steffes, a molecular biology senior from Vale, S.D., who won the CWC all-around title, the UW women piled up 595 points to outdistance runner-up Chadron State College. Northeastern Junior College placed third with 160 points.
Steffes, who won nine individual all-around titles in 10 separate rodeos in the region last year, is off to another fast start. Even though she didn't win an individual event in Riverton, she did score points in all three women's events -- the only woman competitor to pull it off.
After taking part of the summer off from competition after last June's College National Finals Rodeo, Steffes appears ready for another strong season after placing second in both goat tying and barrel racing and fourth in breakaway roping.
But the Cowgirls' overall depth clearly is what will define the team once again as the UW women seek their fourth consecutive CRMR championship.
Carroll, a kinesiology senior from La Junta, Colo., placed third in the goat tying average. Teammates Mulholland, a nursing senior from Richland Center, Wis., and Bregar, a kinesiology freshman from Lander, didn't make the average in their respective events, but they did score points in breakaway roping and goat tying events, respectively.
The UW men got off to a slow start to begin the season by placing fifth.
The host Rustlers of CWC, who have dominated the region the last four years, won their own rodeo with 475 points, topping second-year program Gillette College by just 65 points. Casper College was third with 370, Lamar Community College had 330 and the UW Cowboys scored 265.
Merritt Smith, a Gillette sophomore in animal science, won the saddle bronc competition, by placing second in the first round and then winning the short go. Only two other UW Cowboys managed to score points in an individual event.
John Franzen, a communications senior from Riverton, took sixth in steer wrestling, while teammate Will Smith, a rangeland ecology freshman from Del Norte, Colo., added team roping points.
The Cowgirls and Cowboys will be at the Sheridan College rodeo Friday through Sunday.
---
Women's team points -- University of Wyoming (UW) 595; Chadron State College (CSC) 265; Northeastern Junior College (NJC) 160; Sheridan College (SC) 150; Central Wyoming College (CWC) 130; Lamar Community College (LCC) 120; Gillette College 110; Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) 95; Colorado State University (CSU) 60.
Men's team points -- CWC, 475; GC, 410; CC, 370; LCC, 330; UW, 265; Otero Community College, 240; LCCC, 225; SC, 210; CSU, 140; EWC, 125; NJC, 70.Barrel racing -- Hannah Mills, NJC, 35.74; Nikki Steffes, UW, 35.85; Amanda Welch, GC, 36.01; Lizzi Snyder, UW, 36.28; Britta O'Keefe, UW, 36.34; Sydney Hettinger, UW, 36.56.
Breakaway roping -- Lisa Vroman, CSC, 6; Andie Scott, EWC, 6.5; Kelsey Scott, CSC, 6.6; Nikki Steffes, UW, 7.3; Jessie Smith, CSU, 16.4; Sarah Mulholland, UW, 2.8 (on one).
Goat tying -- Lacey Schuelke, SC, 18.2; Nikki Steffes, UW, 18.4; TaNaye Carroll, UW, 18.6; Lacey Harper, Front Range Community College, 18.8; Laura Waldo, CWC, 18.9; Heather Bregar, UW, 19.
Saddle bronc riding -- Merritt Smith, UW, 147; Riley Knoll, CWC, 126. Only two on two successful rides.Bareback riding -- Bryan Jones, CWC, 151; Paul Palczewski GC, 139; Warren Stairs, LCCC, 137; Ty Breuer, CWC, 136. Only four on two successful rides.
Bull riding -- Clay Culbreath, CSU, 78; Miles Spickelmier, LCCC, 75; Brandon Abel, LCCC, 72; Cameron Weddle NJC and Lane Sterling, GC, both 70; Kris Newman, CC, 65. All one ride.
Tie down roping -- Nathan Ramsey, Otero Community College, 19.8; Cole Dorenkamp, LCC, 21.7; Tyler Viles, UW, 22.1; Caleb Adle, NJC, 22.3; Cody McCluskey, NJC, 22.6; Brice Ingo, LCC, 22.4.
Steer wrestling -- Vance Steedley, SC, 10.4; Seth Bolerjack, UW, 10.9; Logan McDonald, EWC, 11.1; Cole Dorenkamp, LCC, 12.8; Tyrel Larsen, CC, 12.9; John Franzen, UW, 13.6.
Team roping -- Chad Nelson, UW/Beau Miller, GC, 14.1; O.J. Huxtable/Dustin Smith, CC, 15.7; Chelsen Willhoite, LCC/Nathan Ramsey, Otero Community College, 18.3; Tyrel Schroth/Tyrel Bonnet, SC, 20.7; Tyler Viles, UW/Jared Bilby, EWC, 31.6; Taylor Miniat/Clay Hill, CSU, 45.7.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
UW football roundup
Turnovers killing Cowboys.
http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/turnovers-too-costly-for-cowboys.html
Bowling Green's thoughts on Wyoming.
http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/by-richard-anderson-wyoming-sports.html
http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/turnovers-too-costly-for-cowboys.html
Bowling Green's thoughts on Wyoming.
http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/by-richard-anderson-wyoming-sports.html
Cowboys to compete in NWCA National Duals
by Wyoming Sports.orgUniversity of Wyoming head wrestling coach Mark Branch has announced that on Jan. 10-11, 2009, the Cowboys will participate in the prestigious National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The 16-team, double-elimination event is widely regarded as the head-to-head dual national championship in collegiate wrestling.
“These duals are a great opportunity for our program to wrestle against some of the best teams in the country,” said Branch. “It is an honor for Wyoming to have been asked to join this field, and we are looking forward to the challenge. Our guys will benefit from the exposure to this event and the environment that surrounds it.”
The Division I schools participating in this year’s dual championship are Boise State, Buffalo, Cornell, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin and Wyoming. This is the first time since the event began in 1989 that the Cowboys have been included in the field.
Over the course of those two days, the NWCA also hosts dual championships for Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA schools at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls. Seedings and brackets will be announced at a later date.
Iowa is the defending 2008 D-I team champion. Minnesota had won the title the previous two years.
The National Duals are part of a widely varied season schedule for UW. Wyoming will wrestle in multiple national tournaments during the first few months of the 2008-09 season and then go head-to-head with a wide range of opponents in dual competition prior to their conference championship and the NCAA Tournament in March.
The Cowboys open on Nov. 8 in Powell at the Northwest Wyoming Tournament. They'll host back-to-back home events, a dual versus PAC-10 school Stanford on Nov. 14 and the Cowboy Open Tournament on Nov. 15. Over the following month, UW will send wrestlers to the Omaha Open, the Las Vegas Invitational and the Reno Tournament of Champions. Wyoming’s dual season gets into full swing in January of ‘09 with 17 team match-ups, including the likes of Duke, North Carolina State and Oklahoma State on the road, as well as league meets against South Dakota State, North Dakota State and Air Force at home.
UW will qualify for nationals at the Western Wrestling Conference Championship on March 7 in Greeley, Colo., and then hope to send a strong contingent to the NCAA National Championship, March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo
Monday, September 22, 2008
UW roundup: Cowgirls tie Idaho State
By Wyoming Sports.org
POCATELLO, Idaho -- Wyoming fell behind early to Idaho State, but came back to tie the Bengals 1-1 on Sunday afternoon. The tie puts the Cowgirls at 5-4-1 on the season, while Idaho State is now 2-5-2.
Wyoming has played one overtime game earlier this season against Montana, but this was the first double overtime match for the team this year.
“We came out slow to start the game today and gave up an early goal,” said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. “After the goal, we responded well and matched it with a score of our own.”
The scoring started when ISU player Ryan Lauren scored in the 31st minute. Wyoming came out fast after giving up the goal when senior Amanda Lathrop was able to tie the game at the 35:52 mark. Seniors Tamika Wilson and Laine Hubbard were credited with assists on the play.
“We played better in the second half and had some decent opportunities, we just weren’t able to get the game winning goal,” Sanchez said.
The Cowgirls out-shot the Bengals 22-12 for the game and 7-3 in the two overtime periods. Jamie Scarcliff went the distance for the Cowgirls at goalie and made one save in the overtime periods.
Wyoming returns home this weekend after going 3-0-1 in the past four road games. They will take on Utah State on Sunday at noon at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
Rico in sixth at Ron Moore Invite
DENVER -- The University of Wyoming Cowgirl golf team took to the fairways of the Highlands Ranch Golf Club to compete in the Ron Moore Invitational in Denver, Colo., and find themselves tied for third place after one round of play.
In the opening round, the Cowgirls shot a team 302 (+14) which has them currently tied with the University of Kentucky and 15 strokes behind the host University of Denver.
The Cowgirls are led by freshman Juanita Rico with her personal best 70 (-2). Her round ties the second-best in Cowgirl history. On the par 72 course, Rico had two bogeys and four birdies, including three birdies in a row.
“Juanita played great today,” Cowgirl head coach Josey Stender said. “She was more confident with her putter and she was able to string some good birdies together.”
Junior Sarah Fogerty shot an opening 74 (+2) with two birdies of her own and is currently tied for 11th-place after day one. Fellow junior, Jonelle Martinez kept up her consistent play with a first-round 76 (+4), to keep her within striking distance in 18th place.
“Coming off the tournament in New Mexico, we knew we could play with these teams,” said Stender. “I am very proud of our continued focus and I am very excited to see how we come out and play tomorrow.”
The Cowgirls will continue action Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Tennis wraps up play at CU Invite
BOULDER, Colo. -- The Cowgirl tennis team concluded play Sunday at the Colorado Invitational.
“We played a lot of matches this weekend,” said head coach Kati Gyulai. “We are excited about the improvements we made and are anxious to start practicing to get ready for our next tournament.”
It was a tough day in doubles play, as Wyoming could only manage two victories out of seven. In their only match of the day, Rebecca Berger and Sarah Summerfield earned an 8-3 win against Jill Kappel and Luiza Xavier of Northern Colorado. Berger and Summerfield are 6-2 so far in doubles play this far. The other team to come away with a win were Brittany DeFelice and Jamie Nelson, as they defeated Jill Kappel and Luiza Xavier as well, 8-6. They would fall in their second match against Shivani Dave (Illinois) and Megumi Voight (Air Force), 8-6.
In other action, Ronnie Spencer and Carly Van Hollen lost twice against Tabatha Knop and Manuela Santos (UNC), 8-6, and Amy Allin and Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois), 8-1. Carolina Chaix and Virginia Iwinski fell to Tiffany Knop and Hannah LaForest (UNC), 8-2, and Christiane Pheil and Abbie Probert (Colorado), 8-4.
Wyoming continues action on Oct. 3-4 at the Air Force Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Clower named UW assistant tennis coach
University of Wyoming head women’s tennis coach Kati Gyulai announced on Monday the hiring of Dean Clower as an assistant coach with the Cowgirl tennis program. His duties will begin immediately.
Clower joins the Cowgirl coaching staff after spending the last two years as an assistant coach at Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas). His duties included assisting with practice sessions, on the court training of both singles and doubles teams, creating and maintaining data bases for prospective players, along with ensuring compliance with recruitment regulations. Prior to that, he spent one season as a volunteer assistant with the program and an adjunct professor for kinesiology.
He also has worked as an assistant teaching Pro at The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City (2002, 2004, 2007). Clower trained juniors players and was responsible for tournament travel and preparation for competition, while providing private and group lessons to juniors and adults. Prior to that, he worked at the Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.
Clower began his collegiate career as a student-athlete at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas. He was a two-year team captain and was ranked fifth in the nation in doubles as a freshman and sophomore. Clower then moved on to a two-year career at Lamar University. He finished with a season-best 14-7 record in singles play and 9-9 in doubles at the number one spot as a junior. During his senior season, he posted a 9-10 overall record and a 12-6 mark in doubles-play. Clower also was ranked 48th in the country in doubles play, the first ranked doubles player in Lamar history.
A native of Broken Arrow, Okla., Clower earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in general studies with a minor in history and kinesiology from Lamar University in 2006. He recently completed his master’s in exercise science from there as well in 2008.
“I am very excited to have Dean on our staff,” Gyulai said. “I have known him for a few years and watched him grow as a coach. He loves tennis and the college setting. He is an immediate asset to our program.”
POCATELLO, Idaho -- Wyoming fell behind early to Idaho State, but came back to tie the Bengals 1-1 on Sunday afternoon. The tie puts the Cowgirls at 5-4-1 on the season, while Idaho State is now 2-5-2.
Wyoming has played one overtime game earlier this season against Montana, but this was the first double overtime match for the team this year.
“We came out slow to start the game today and gave up an early goal,” said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. “After the goal, we responded well and matched it with a score of our own.”
The scoring started when ISU player Ryan Lauren scored in the 31st minute. Wyoming came out fast after giving up the goal when senior Amanda Lathrop was able to tie the game at the 35:52 mark. Seniors Tamika Wilson and Laine Hubbard were credited with assists on the play.
“We played better in the second half and had some decent opportunities, we just weren’t able to get the game winning goal,” Sanchez said.
The Cowgirls out-shot the Bengals 22-12 for the game and 7-3 in the two overtime periods. Jamie Scarcliff went the distance for the Cowgirls at goalie and made one save in the overtime periods.
Wyoming returns home this weekend after going 3-0-1 in the past four road games. They will take on Utah State on Sunday at noon at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
Rico in sixth at Ron Moore Invite
DENVER -- The University of Wyoming Cowgirl golf team took to the fairways of the Highlands Ranch Golf Club to compete in the Ron Moore Invitational in Denver, Colo., and find themselves tied for third place after one round of play.
In the opening round, the Cowgirls shot a team 302 (+14) which has them currently tied with the University of Kentucky and 15 strokes behind the host University of Denver.
The Cowgirls are led by freshman Juanita Rico with her personal best 70 (-2). Her round ties the second-best in Cowgirl history. On the par 72 course, Rico had two bogeys and four birdies, including three birdies in a row.
“Juanita played great today,” Cowgirl head coach Josey Stender said. “She was more confident with her putter and she was able to string some good birdies together.”
Junior Sarah Fogerty shot an opening 74 (+2) with two birdies of her own and is currently tied for 11th-place after day one. Fellow junior, Jonelle Martinez kept up her consistent play with a first-round 76 (+4), to keep her within striking distance in 18th place.
“Coming off the tournament in New Mexico, we knew we could play with these teams,” said Stender. “I am very proud of our continued focus and I am very excited to see how we come out and play tomorrow.”
The Cowgirls will continue action Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Tennis wraps up play at CU Invite
BOULDER, Colo. -- The Cowgirl tennis team concluded play Sunday at the Colorado Invitational.
“We played a lot of matches this weekend,” said head coach Kati Gyulai. “We are excited about the improvements we made and are anxious to start practicing to get ready for our next tournament.”
It was a tough day in doubles play, as Wyoming could only manage two victories out of seven. In their only match of the day, Rebecca Berger and Sarah Summerfield earned an 8-3 win against Jill Kappel and Luiza Xavier of Northern Colorado. Berger and Summerfield are 6-2 so far in doubles play this far. The other team to come away with a win were Brittany DeFelice and Jamie Nelson, as they defeated Jill Kappel and Luiza Xavier as well, 8-6. They would fall in their second match against Shivani Dave (Illinois) and Megumi Voight (Air Force), 8-6.
In other action, Ronnie Spencer and Carly Van Hollen lost twice against Tabatha Knop and Manuela Santos (UNC), 8-6, and Amy Allin and Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois), 8-1. Carolina Chaix and Virginia Iwinski fell to Tiffany Knop and Hannah LaForest (UNC), 8-2, and Christiane Pheil and Abbie Probert (Colorado), 8-4.
Wyoming continues action on Oct. 3-4 at the Air Force Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Clower named UW assistant tennis coach
University of Wyoming head women’s tennis coach Kati Gyulai announced on Monday the hiring of Dean Clower as an assistant coach with the Cowgirl tennis program. His duties will begin immediately.
Clower joins the Cowgirl coaching staff after spending the last two years as an assistant coach at Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas). His duties included assisting with practice sessions, on the court training of both singles and doubles teams, creating and maintaining data bases for prospective players, along with ensuring compliance with recruitment regulations. Prior to that, he spent one season as a volunteer assistant with the program and an adjunct professor for kinesiology.
He also has worked as an assistant teaching Pro at The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City (2002, 2004, 2007). Clower trained juniors players and was responsible for tournament travel and preparation for competition, while providing private and group lessons to juniors and adults. Prior to that, he worked at the Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.
Clower began his collegiate career as a student-athlete at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas. He was a two-year team captain and was ranked fifth in the nation in doubles as a freshman and sophomore. Clower then moved on to a two-year career at Lamar University. He finished with a season-best 14-7 record in singles play and 9-9 in doubles at the number one spot as a junior. During his senior season, he posted a 9-10 overall record and a 12-6 mark in doubles-play. Clower also was ranked 48th in the country in doubles play, the first ranked doubles player in Lamar history.
A native of Broken Arrow, Okla., Clower earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in general studies with a minor in history and kinesiology from Lamar University in 2006. He recently completed his master’s in exercise science from there as well in 2008.
“I am very excited to have Dean on our staff,” Gyulai said. “I have known him for a few years and watched him grow as a coach. He loves tennis and the college setting. He is an immediate asset to our program.”
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Cougars crush Cowboys
Brigham Young, ranked 11th/14th in this week's national polls, looked evey bit the part to running past Wyoming 44-0.
For more: http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/byu-rolls-past-cowboys.html
For more: http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/byu-rolls-past-cowboys.html
Cowgirls roll past Utes
Richard Anderson photo
The Cowgirls celebrate a point Saturday night in the three-game win over Utah.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
A little confidence goes a long way for the Wyoming Cowgirls these days.
After playing well, but not good enough to beat 24th-ranked Brigham Young on Thursday, the Cowgirls took it a step further with a resounding three-game win over highly regarded Utah Saturday night at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
Wyoming won its first Mountain West Conference match (1-1, 2-9 overall) on the season and the first in head coach Carrie Yerty’s career, with a 25-22, 25-20 and 25-18 victory.
It was also the Cowgirls first win against Utah since 1997 (21 matches, including post-season play).
“I’m excited to go back and see when was the last time we beat Utah in three,” Wyoming coach Carrie Yerty said. “That’s exciting.”
How about since the 1991 season.
Wyoming sophomore middle blocker JennaRae Jester said they finally did what they knew they could do.
“We knew we could compete well enough, but finally we believed in ourselves enough to do it,” Jester said.
Yerty always enjoys what she is doing, she said, but a match like this always makes her job a little more pleasurable when things go your way. Things went the Cowgirls way on Saturday night.
“This team has had two really close ones against two really good teams, so it was nice to see the composure, it was nice to see the execution of our game plan -- it was executed to a T, from the way we served, to how we attacked,” Yerty said.
The Cowgirls came out strong in the match, although they probably stubbed their toes a couple of times between that first point and match point. Utah did lead on a few occasions, but Wyoming always seemed to have an answer.
“Carrie said to make sure you come out hard, make sure your warm-ups are good, because we seemed a little flat in our first games (in each match),” Jester said. “It was our job to come out hard against them and take them down first.”
The key for this young Cowgirls’ team, Yerty said, is to stay composed at the same level of play. That was the big message between the second and third games.
“We do some really good things and then sometimes we will give up a lot of points in a row,” Yerty said. “For us, if we can be consistent with see-saw, back-and-forth play with a team, we’ll be competitive. I said, ‘you don’t have to do anything different than what you have been doing; we don’t have to try harder and we don’t have to be smarter. We just have to continue to execute and we just have to continue to pass the ball.'”
For the second straight match -- actually in about every match this season -- the Cowgirls had to battle against a bigger team.
More heart can take down more height any day, Yerty said.
“We’ve done a lot of things to bond to get ready for this year,” Yerty said. “I don’t know if we are going to win our next match or not, but I do know that the girls are enjoying that experience and they are getting better every time they step out on the floor.”
The Utes might be among the biggest team that they have faced, led by 6-foot-7 Emiliee Toone.
“Our defense did a fabulous job tonight,” Yerty added. “When you are playing against 6-3, 6-5, 6-7 and you have a 5-7 outside hitter and a 5-7 setter in the front row, we really have to execute our blocking schemes. I think we did a really good job of that.”
It might look like the Cowgirl defense is in the right place at the right time, but senior libero Carissa Lee, who had six of the team’s 46 digs, said they have to be mindful about where they are at. And it all starts in practice.
“It’s practice, practice, practice. It’s really nice to see it come out during the game,” said Lee, who added that playing defense is an attitude, a way of life out on the court. “It’s go, go, go, get it up and do the best that you can.”
Offensively, sophomore Dani Bedore led the way with 14 kills, followed by Arneson with 11, sophomore Lauren Whitney with nine and Jester with eight. The Cowgirls hit .305 on the night.
“We were on tonight, it was amazing,” Arneson said. “It’s just the energy, the chemistry, getting excited and brushing off the bad stuff.”
Utah, which fell to 0-2 and 7-5, was led by Toone with 10 kills. The Utes, who lost to CSU in five games on Thursday night, had just 34 kills and hit .131.
Wyoming looks to take this momentum to Fort Collins next Friday with the first annual Border War match with Colorado State.
“We’ll just keep the momentum and keep going to the next game and take on CSU and everyone else in conference,” Arneson said.
UW roundup: Korir, Higgins lead UW runners
By Wyoming Sports.org
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- The University of Wyoming cross country teams went two-for-two in individual champions as senior Cowboy Mark Korir and junior Cowgirl Emily Higgins both crossed the tape in first place and led their respective teams to two third-place finishes at Saturday’s Montana State Invitational.
Korir won his second meet of the year and his second straight Montana State Invite. He ran a 24:28 in the 5-mile race, just 14 seconds off of his course record he set in 2007.
Higgins, who is coming off a second place finish at last month’s Wyoming Invitational, won her first meet of her already very successful career. She ran a 17:13, four seconds faster than that of Unattached Elisabeth Driscoll.
“What can you say about Mark, he ran his race and continues to have success on the cross country course, he ran very well,” said head coach Randy Cole. “Emily ran extremely well, it’s nice to see all her hard work finally starting to pay off. She was in 12th-place after the first mile, then fourth-place after two-miles, then first after three. She was not going to be denied today.”
For the Cowboys, fellow senior Michael Huntington followed Korir for most of the way and finished in third place, his second top-five finish in as many races. Sophomore Seth Grossman finished next in 12th-place and a time of 25:13. Red-shirt freshman Greg Miller placed 18th and senior Brett Schuler finished in 21st with times of 25:26 and 25:30 respectively.
“We are getting some nice packs of guys running together and they did a good job of pacing themselves and moving up the field together,” said Cole.
As for the Cowgirls, the sophomore combo of Alysha Davis and Emily Byra ran well again as they placed seventh and 12th respectively. Davis improved on her 42nd-place finish and time of 18:29 from a year ago to run a time of 17:35.
Erin Heffron finished the 3-mile race in 24th place with a time of 18:13. Senior Nikki Peterson, who is fighting a sore Achilles, placed 31st with her time of 18:23.
“Overall it was a real positive experience for both teams as we improved in every aspect of the meet from last year,” said Cole. “I saw a lot of determination on the faces of all our runners and we have keep that fire.”
Up next for the Cowboy and Cowgirl harriers is the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis pn Saturday.
Cowgirl golfers finish 12th
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- After strong opening to the UNM/Dick McGuire Invitational, the University of Wyoming Cowgirl golf team concluded the tournament Saturday in 12th place, with a total team score of 927 (+51), the third best team event score in Cowgirl history.
“This was a good challenge for us and we knew going into this weekend that it was going to be tough,” said UW head coach Josey Stender. “The course was playing a little tougher with some pretty tricky hole positions, and we just didn’t place the ball where we wanted to on the greens today.”
Junior Jonelle Martinez finished the tournament tied for 31st place, as she led the team for the tournament with a total of 229 strokes (+10). Following Martinez was freshman Juanita Rico who shot a third round 80 (+7), to finish the tournament tied in 47th place overall. Rico, who led the team after day one with her even par 73, finished the tournament with a total of 233 strokes (+14).
The Cowgirls have just one day off before competing in the Ron Moore Invitational Monday in Denver.
“Our girls feel more confident and prepared for the tournament in Denver,” said Stender. “We know that the Highlands Ranch Golf Club is a course that can have some pretty low scores and if we can just carry over how we played on Thursday we should have another solid tournament.”
UW tennis improves at CU
BOULDER, Colo. -- The Cowgirl tennis team had some success through the second day of the Colorado Invitationa on Saturday.
In the first singles back draws, UW's Sarah Summerfield defeated Tiffany Knop (UNC) 6-1, 6-0. Rebecca Berger lost to Tabitha Knop (UNC) in a close match of 6-4, 7-6 (5), but then came back to win against Knop 7-5, 6-2. In the second draw of singles back draws, Jamie Nelson defeated Jodi Ciarvella (UNC) 6-3, 6-3 in her first match and then followed it up with an 8-2 win against Hannah LaForest also of UNC. Brittany DeFelice was also successful in both matches she competed in. DeFelice won 6-3, 6-3 against Christine Phiel (CU) and also won against Abbey Walker of Virginia Tech, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Carly Van Hollen defeated Phiel (CU) in a close match of 7-5, 6-3, and Walker (Virginia Tech) 6-4, 7-5. In the third draw Carolina Chiax and Virginia Iwinski battled against each other in the back draws. Chaix was the winner 6-2, 6-2. Chaix then went on to dominate in her match against Jennifer Whateley (UNC) 6-0, 6-0. Iwinski was also successful in the back draws posting a win against Jill Kappel (UNC) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (8). Ronnie Spencer lost to Luiza Xavier (UNC) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (4).
In doubles play, the strong pair of Summerfield and Berger defeated Shannon Betts and Katie Blow (Virginia Tech) 8-2. Phiel and Probert defeated Spencer and VanHollen 8-3, while DeFelice and Nelson also lost their match, losing 8-1 to Tahlia Smoke and Allie Chermel (AFA).
The tournament will conclude on Sunday with two rounds of doubles.
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- The University of Wyoming cross country teams went two-for-two in individual champions as senior Cowboy Mark Korir and junior Cowgirl Emily Higgins both crossed the tape in first place and led their respective teams to two third-place finishes at Saturday’s Montana State Invitational.
Korir won his second meet of the year and his second straight Montana State Invite. He ran a 24:28 in the 5-mile race, just 14 seconds off of his course record he set in 2007.
Higgins, who is coming off a second place finish at last month’s Wyoming Invitational, won her first meet of her already very successful career. She ran a 17:13, four seconds faster than that of Unattached Elisabeth Driscoll.
“What can you say about Mark, he ran his race and continues to have success on the cross country course, he ran very well,” said head coach Randy Cole. “Emily ran extremely well, it’s nice to see all her hard work finally starting to pay off. She was in 12th-place after the first mile, then fourth-place after two-miles, then first after three. She was not going to be denied today.”
For the Cowboys, fellow senior Michael Huntington followed Korir for most of the way and finished in third place, his second top-five finish in as many races. Sophomore Seth Grossman finished next in 12th-place and a time of 25:13. Red-shirt freshman Greg Miller placed 18th and senior Brett Schuler finished in 21st with times of 25:26 and 25:30 respectively.
“We are getting some nice packs of guys running together and they did a good job of pacing themselves and moving up the field together,” said Cole.
As for the Cowgirls, the sophomore combo of Alysha Davis and Emily Byra ran well again as they placed seventh and 12th respectively. Davis improved on her 42nd-place finish and time of 18:29 from a year ago to run a time of 17:35.
Erin Heffron finished the 3-mile race in 24th place with a time of 18:13. Senior Nikki Peterson, who is fighting a sore Achilles, placed 31st with her time of 18:23.
“Overall it was a real positive experience for both teams as we improved in every aspect of the meet from last year,” said Cole. “I saw a lot of determination on the faces of all our runners and we have keep that fire.”
Up next for the Cowboy and Cowgirl harriers is the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis pn Saturday.
Cowgirl golfers finish 12th
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- After strong opening to the UNM/Dick McGuire Invitational, the University of Wyoming Cowgirl golf team concluded the tournament Saturday in 12th place, with a total team score of 927 (+51), the third best team event score in Cowgirl history.
“This was a good challenge for us and we knew going into this weekend that it was going to be tough,” said UW head coach Josey Stender. “The course was playing a little tougher with some pretty tricky hole positions, and we just didn’t place the ball where we wanted to on the greens today.”
Junior Jonelle Martinez finished the tournament tied for 31st place, as she led the team for the tournament with a total of 229 strokes (+10). Following Martinez was freshman Juanita Rico who shot a third round 80 (+7), to finish the tournament tied in 47th place overall. Rico, who led the team after day one with her even par 73, finished the tournament with a total of 233 strokes (+14).
The Cowgirls have just one day off before competing in the Ron Moore Invitational Monday in Denver.
“Our girls feel more confident and prepared for the tournament in Denver,” said Stender. “We know that the Highlands Ranch Golf Club is a course that can have some pretty low scores and if we can just carry over how we played on Thursday we should have another solid tournament.”
UW tennis improves at CU
BOULDER, Colo. -- The Cowgirl tennis team had some success through the second day of the Colorado Invitationa on Saturday.
In the first singles back draws, UW's Sarah Summerfield defeated Tiffany Knop (UNC) 6-1, 6-0. Rebecca Berger lost to Tabitha Knop (UNC) in a close match of 6-4, 7-6 (5), but then came back to win against Knop 7-5, 6-2. In the second draw of singles back draws, Jamie Nelson defeated Jodi Ciarvella (UNC) 6-3, 6-3 in her first match and then followed it up with an 8-2 win against Hannah LaForest also of UNC. Brittany DeFelice was also successful in both matches she competed in. DeFelice won 6-3, 6-3 against Christine Phiel (CU) and also won against Abbey Walker of Virginia Tech, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Carly Van Hollen defeated Phiel (CU) in a close match of 7-5, 6-3, and Walker (Virginia Tech) 6-4, 7-5. In the third draw Carolina Chiax and Virginia Iwinski battled against each other in the back draws. Chaix was the winner 6-2, 6-2. Chaix then went on to dominate in her match against Jennifer Whateley (UNC) 6-0, 6-0. Iwinski was also successful in the back draws posting a win against Jill Kappel (UNC) 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (8). Ronnie Spencer lost to Luiza Xavier (UNC) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (4).
In doubles play, the strong pair of Summerfield and Berger defeated Shannon Betts and Katie Blow (Virginia Tech) 8-2. Phiel and Probert defeated Spencer and VanHollen 8-3, while DeFelice and Nelson also lost their match, losing 8-1 to Tahlia Smoke and Allie Chermel (AFA).
The tournament will conclude on Sunday with two rounds of doubles.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Plainsmen beat Trojans
The Laramie Plainsmen earned their first win of the football season with a 24-16 victory over Casper Kelly Walsh Friday night in Casper.
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainsmen-beat-kw-for-first-win-of.html
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainsmen-beat-kw-for-first-win-of.html
UW roundup: Cowgirls win 1-0
by Wyoming Sports.org
POCATELLO, Idaho -- The Wyoming Cowgirls won their third straight game, stopping Utah Valley State 1-0 Friday in the Idaho State Classic.
"I am pleased with our defense today. We were able to withstand the pressure from Utah Valley tonight," said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. "We started out fast and had some great chances early, and were able to jump ahead."
The only goal of the game was scored off a corner kick by Wyoming junior Emily Layton at the 18:20 mark. Senior Amanda Lathrop was credited with the assist.
Junior Emma Wilson, and Lathrop led the team with four shots each and helped the Cowgirls out shoot UVU 17-6 in the game. Wyoming also took nine more corner kicks than the Wolverines.
Guarding the net for the Cowgirls was senior Jamie Scarcliff. She played the full 90 minutes and made three saves in the shutout win.
Wyoming has now out-scored its opponents 5-0 in the last three games. Wyoming has not shut out three straight team since the 2005 season.
The Cowgirls will continue in the classic, as they play Idaho State on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Cowgirl golfers fall to 11th
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The University of Wyoming women’s golf team slipped from third to 11th place out of the stacked field of 16 after day two of the UNM Dick McGuire Invitational.
The Cowgirls were paired up with the 17th-ranked Pepperdine Waves and the 23rd-ranked New Mexico Lady Lobos after their opening round 297 (+5). On Friday, the Waves and Lady Lobos widened their lead as both teams are currently tied for first place with team scores of 585 (+1), nine strokes ahead of third place.
“It was a great learning experience for us today being paired with such great competition,” said head coach Josey Stender. “Our girls got to see that our games are not much different than their’s and that we can play with them.”
Jonelle Martinez dug herself a nice hole after her an opening round 80 (+7), but answered with her career best and second best individual round in Cowgirl history, with a 71 (-2). She has a combined score of 151 (+5) and is currently tied for 25th position after two rounds of play.
“Jonelle had a great mind-set today, she relaxed and really executed her game plan and played great,” said Stender.
Freshman Juanita Rico followed her opening even par first round with an 80 (+7), to fall from being tied for sixth place to now in a tie for the 35th spot in the tourney. Sophomore Jenna Zamprelli, finished the day with an eagle on the final hole to salvage an 81 (+8) which has her heading into the final round tied for 55th.
The Cowgirls will conclude the tournament Saturday with a shotgun start beginning at 8 a.m., before moving to Denver to compete in the Ron Moore Invitational on Monday.
UW tennis at CU
BOULDER, Colo. -- The Wyoming Cowgirl tennis team opened up a three-day tournament at the Colorado Invitational. The Cowgirls had a successful and busy first day while conditions seemed perfect as they squeezed in as many matches as possible.
“We played a lot of competitive tennis today,” said head coach Kati Gyulai. “We have made significant improvement from last weekend. Our focus is to improve from round to round and we are achieving our goal.”
The day started with doubles play with two new teams. Ronnie Spencer and Carly Van Hollen won their first match against Tiffany Knop and Hannah LaForest from the University of Northern Colorado in a close match of 9-7, but fell in the quarterfinals 8-0, losing to Camilla Belassi and Monica Milewski from the University of Colorado. Brittany DeFelice and Jamie Nelson opened up against Amy Allin and Marisa Lambropoulos from the University of Illinois with a first round defeat 8-2. Rebecca Berger and Sarah Summerfield battled against Jessica Brouwer and Holly Johnson from Virginia Tech losing 8-2 as well. In the back-draws, Summerfield and Berger defeated Tahlia Smoke and Allie Chermel of the Air Force Academy, 8-1. In the second draw of doubles, Carolina Chaix and Virginia Iwinski won their first match against the University of Northern Colorado’s Luiza Xavier and Jill Kappel, winning 8-2.
In singles play, there were several matches played. DeFelice was successful in the first round, defeating Allie Chermel (AFA) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (6). She then lost in the quarterfinals to Shannon Betts (VT) 6-4, 6-4. Van Hollen also had a successful first round, winning 6-4, 6-0 against Allison Wahba (CU). In the quarterfinals, she lost to Martha Blakely (VT) 6-1, 7-5. In the gold draw singles, Summerfield was defeated by Inga Beerman (VT) 6-2, 6-2, but battled back and won in the back draw, defeating Tahlia Smoke (AFA) 7-6 (2), 6-4. Berger also lost her first round match, to Melisa Esposito (CU) 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (8). However, Berger also won in the back draw 6-2, 6-3, beating Manuela Santos (UNC). In the second draw, Nelson lost her first round to Holly Johnson (AFA), 6-2, 6-0. She then went on to win in the backdraws, defeating Luiza Xavier (UNC), 6-3, 6-1. Spencer also lost in the first round to Abbie Probert (CU), 6-0, 6-1. Spencer also won in the back draw, defeating Jodi Ciarvealla (UNC) 6-3, 7-5. In the silver draw, Virginia Iwinski battled in her first match against Megumi Voight (AFA) but lost in the end 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (6). Chaix also had a tough first round, losing to Madie Kern (CU) 6-2, 7-6 (3). Both were defeated in the back draw by UNC, Iwinski losing to Jennifer Whateley (UNC) 6-3, 7-6 (2) and Chaix losing to Kappel 6-1, 6-1.
Action picks up Satrurday at 9 a.m.
POCATELLO, Idaho -- The Wyoming Cowgirls won their third straight game, stopping Utah Valley State 1-0 Friday in the Idaho State Classic.
"I am pleased with our defense today. We were able to withstand the pressure from Utah Valley tonight," said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. "We started out fast and had some great chances early, and were able to jump ahead."
The only goal of the game was scored off a corner kick by Wyoming junior Emily Layton at the 18:20 mark. Senior Amanda Lathrop was credited with the assist.
Junior Emma Wilson, and Lathrop led the team with four shots each and helped the Cowgirls out shoot UVU 17-6 in the game. Wyoming also took nine more corner kicks than the Wolverines.
Guarding the net for the Cowgirls was senior Jamie Scarcliff. She played the full 90 minutes and made three saves in the shutout win.
Wyoming has now out-scored its opponents 5-0 in the last three games. Wyoming has not shut out three straight team since the 2005 season.
The Cowgirls will continue in the classic, as they play Idaho State on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Cowgirl golfers fall to 11th
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The University of Wyoming women’s golf team slipped from third to 11th place out of the stacked field of 16 after day two of the UNM Dick McGuire Invitational.
The Cowgirls were paired up with the 17th-ranked Pepperdine Waves and the 23rd-ranked New Mexico Lady Lobos after their opening round 297 (+5). On Friday, the Waves and Lady Lobos widened their lead as both teams are currently tied for first place with team scores of 585 (+1), nine strokes ahead of third place.
“It was a great learning experience for us today being paired with such great competition,” said head coach Josey Stender. “Our girls got to see that our games are not much different than their’s and that we can play with them.”
Jonelle Martinez dug herself a nice hole after her an opening round 80 (+7), but answered with her career best and second best individual round in Cowgirl history, with a 71 (-2). She has a combined score of 151 (+5) and is currently tied for 25th position after two rounds of play.
“Jonelle had a great mind-set today, she relaxed and really executed her game plan and played great,” said Stender.
Freshman Juanita Rico followed her opening even par first round with an 80 (+7), to fall from being tied for sixth place to now in a tie for the 35th spot in the tourney. Sophomore Jenna Zamprelli, finished the day with an eagle on the final hole to salvage an 81 (+8) which has her heading into the final round tied for 55th.
The Cowgirls will conclude the tournament Saturday with a shotgun start beginning at 8 a.m., before moving to Denver to compete in the Ron Moore Invitational on Monday.
UW tennis at CU
BOULDER, Colo. -- The Wyoming Cowgirl tennis team opened up a three-day tournament at the Colorado Invitational. The Cowgirls had a successful and busy first day while conditions seemed perfect as they squeezed in as many matches as possible.
“We played a lot of competitive tennis today,” said head coach Kati Gyulai. “We have made significant improvement from last weekend. Our focus is to improve from round to round and we are achieving our goal.”
The day started with doubles play with two new teams. Ronnie Spencer and Carly Van Hollen won their first match against Tiffany Knop and Hannah LaForest from the University of Northern Colorado in a close match of 9-7, but fell in the quarterfinals 8-0, losing to Camilla Belassi and Monica Milewski from the University of Colorado. Brittany DeFelice and Jamie Nelson opened up against Amy Allin and Marisa Lambropoulos from the University of Illinois with a first round defeat 8-2. Rebecca Berger and Sarah Summerfield battled against Jessica Brouwer and Holly Johnson from Virginia Tech losing 8-2 as well. In the back-draws, Summerfield and Berger defeated Tahlia Smoke and Allie Chermel of the Air Force Academy, 8-1. In the second draw of doubles, Carolina Chaix and Virginia Iwinski won their first match against the University of Northern Colorado’s Luiza Xavier and Jill Kappel, winning 8-2.
In singles play, there were several matches played. DeFelice was successful in the first round, defeating Allie Chermel (AFA) 6-2, 5-7, 1-0 (6). She then lost in the quarterfinals to Shannon Betts (VT) 6-4, 6-4. Van Hollen also had a successful first round, winning 6-4, 6-0 against Allison Wahba (CU). In the quarterfinals, she lost to Martha Blakely (VT) 6-1, 7-5. In the gold draw singles, Summerfield was defeated by Inga Beerman (VT) 6-2, 6-2, but battled back and won in the back draw, defeating Tahlia Smoke (AFA) 7-6 (2), 6-4. Berger also lost her first round match, to Melisa Esposito (CU) 6-2, 1-6, 1-0 (8). However, Berger also won in the back draw 6-2, 6-3, beating Manuela Santos (UNC). In the second draw, Nelson lost her first round to Holly Johnson (AFA), 6-2, 6-0. She then went on to win in the backdraws, defeating Luiza Xavier (UNC), 6-3, 6-1. Spencer also lost in the first round to Abbie Probert (CU), 6-0, 6-1. Spencer also won in the back draw, defeating Jodi Ciarvealla (UNC) 6-3, 7-5. In the silver draw, Virginia Iwinski battled in her first match against Megumi Voight (AFA) but lost in the end 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (6). Chaix also had a tough first round, losing to Madie Kern (CU) 6-2, 7-6 (3). Both were defeated in the back draw by UNC, Iwinski losing to Jennifer Whateley (UNC) 6-3, 7-6 (2) and Chaix losing to Kappel 6-1, 6-1.
Action picks up Satrurday at 9 a.m.
UW needs big offensive game
The Cowboys have to have their best offensive game of the season to stay with No. 11 BYU.
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/cowboy-offense-has-to-step-up.html
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/cowboy-offense-has-to-step-up.html
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Plainsmen at Casper KW
The Laramie Plainsmen are looking for their first win of the season Friday night at Casper Kelly Walsh.
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainsmen-seaching-for-first-win-at-kw.html
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/plainsmen-seaching-for-first-win-at-kw.html
Cowgirls get better, but fall in three
Richard Anderson photo
From left, sophomores Lauren Whitney, Jenna Arneson and Dani Bedore get ready for the serve Thursday night against BYU.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
The Wyoming Cowgirls got a little better as the night wore on. Brigham Young, however, was strong from start to finish and the result was a three-game win for the Cougars.
BYU, ranked 24th in the country, earned the 25-14, 25-19, 27-25 win in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
It was the third match against a Top 25 program for Wyoming this season and although the Cowgirls (1-9) have yet to win a set against the ranked teams, they are not only getting closer, they are getting more confident.
“It can only get better. We’re definitely not backtracking at all,” said Wyoming sophomore middle blocker JennaRae Jester, who is basically in her first year of extensive action with the Cowgirls. “We started with some big teams during preseason, but we’re building and we’re only getting better.”
While it is obvious that those ranked teams are more physical than the Cowgirls, Jester said they are learning to play the mental part of the game against good teams.
“We’re making sure that we’re in it all of the time, that we don’t check out; that we’re always playing hard each point and we don’t give them runs because that is kind of what hurts us,” Jester said.
Against the Cougars (8-2), the Cowgirls weren’t always in the game early and basically never led. But a better second game led to a better third game and nearly an opportunity to extend the match.
Wyoming head coach Carrie Yerty said that it wasn't like they just ran out of time; they just started too late.
“We have to be able to come out from the very first play of the game and be ready to play, regardless of who is across the net,” Yerty said. “Our team is unique in the fact that we don’t have a big bench. Every player on our team has to carry a load. They have to carry a leadership role, they have to carry their responsibility in terms of their position and as an athlete.
“It hurts us if we have one player off, or two players off, and we have to find a way to regroup and continue to play without focusing on what is coming at us. It’s more about what we’re taking care of.”
At the same time, Yerty said the Cowgirls could have packed their bags in the end and went home early. They didn’t and benefited from not giving in despite the three-game loss.
“I think Lauren Whitney took some big swings at the end of the game and I think Tasha is doing a nice job of running the offense and staying focused at what her task at hand is,” Yerty said. “We had a good game plan and they are getting better at learning how to follow it from start to finish. We’re going to be a better team every time we step out on the court, and I expect that and they expect that. We’re not going to look through the rear view mirror. We’re going to look forward to Utah and try again.”
Weishahn, a senior setter, is one of the few players on the court for Wyoming who had any real experience going into the season.
While the young Cowgirl hitters are learning the game, she is learning about them. She said it really wasn’t their night against the Cougars, but these types of matches can only help in the long run.
“We have a tough conference, so going into the first three matches of conference play, we have the top three teams,” Weishahn said. “As long as we compete well, we’ll play with everyone. I really believe that we can play with each of those teams, even though they are ranked so high.”
It wasn’t a real impressive night offensively by either team, as the Cougars hit just .221 and Wyoming basically hit half of that at .116. Sophomore Dani Bedore led all hitters with 11 kills for Wyoming, with Whitney, a sophomore, adding 10 kills and Jester six. Weishahn had 30 set assists.
BYU was led by 6-foot-5 middle blocker Kayla Walker and 6-1 senior Rachel Dyer with 10 kills each.
“They are bigger, but that doesn’t mean we can’t compete with them and can’t hang in there with them,” said the 6-2 Jester. “I think that might have scared us a little bit, but I definitely think we know now that we can compete with them. That won’t intimidate us again.”
The Cowgirls will now prepare for Utah, which is now 7-3 on the season after a five-game loss to CSU in Fort Collins, Colo., on Thursday night.
“They have some nice hitters, but they are also a very nice ball-control team, so we’re going to have to go at splitting their offense to provide holes for our smaller attackers,” Yerty said of the Utes. “Basically, we’re going to have to take care of the ball on our side of the court. When we do that, we put ourselves in position to win.”
Weishahn said they’ll work Friday and Saturday on just focusing on themselves.
“We’re a young team, a little team,” Weishahn said. “We have a lot of dogfight in us. For now, we’re just going to work on competing and keeping our energy up.”
Match time is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
It's home sweet home for Stucky
Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming assistant coach Jill Stucky gets ready to run a drill earlier this season.
By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org
For Jill Stucky, home is where the heart is. Her heart is with her family, the University of Wyoming and Laramie.
The former Cowgirl volleyball star in the mid 1990s, then known as Jill Jones, always felt an attachment with the state and Laramie. She was born and lived her first 12 years in Sheridan, before moving to Kansas. She then came back to play for the Cowgirls, while her family -- father Darrell Jones and mother Joann Jones, returned to Laramie to live. Her brother, Jeremy Jones, is a local chiropractor.
Now married to husband Kyle, the Stucky’s have two small girls, ages 3 and 4½. When the opportunity came to come back and be an assistant on first-year head coach Carrie Yerty’s staff, it was a no-brainer.
“As I progressed in my coaching career, obviously at some point you get married, you have kids and you realize that there is more to life than just coaching,” Stucky said. “My family fortunately moved from Goodland, Kan., to back here. It just seemed like a wonderful opportunity to have grandparents around to help me raise my kids.”
She said this move was all about her being a better coach because she can now be a better mother.
“Before, I always felt like I was stealing time from one of my important jobs -- coaching or mothering -- to do the other job,” she said. “Here, I can do the thing that I love, coaching volleyball, and I can do my most important job, which is being a mother and a good wife. I feel completely well-rounded here; this is where I am supposed to be.”
There is a fine line of being a coach and a parent and along with her mother, father and brother, Stucky credits her husband, a teacher at Rock River, for being the glue of their immediate family.
“I have a wonderful husband who is a great dad,” Stucky said.
When Stuckey walked in the UniWyo Sports Complex for the first time to begin two-a-days in early August, she said she knew that she was home.
“The smell of the gym, it just felt right,” she said. “I have all of the support that I could possibly have here. It feels like I have come full circle in the best way that I could have.”
Stucky came to then head coach Mike English’s camp in high school and left with a scholarship. By the time she was a junior with the Cowgirls, she said she knew that she wanted to become a coach.
“I would spend time with my coaches and I realized that their job is an exciting and interesting job, and a job where you don’t have to do the same thing every day …. something new all of the time,” she said. “So I started putting a little resume together.”
Stucky called an acquaintance in Kansas, Ray Bechard, who was the coach at Barton Community College in Kansas to be a reference. He gave her a job instead and she moved to Kansas with Bechard the next year. She spent 10 years in Lawrence, before coming back to Laramie.
Stucky would go on to play for three coaches at UW -- English, Beth Kuwata and Susan Steadman. She helped the Cowgirls go to their last NCAA Tournament under Kuwata in 1994.
Stucky said she went from being a big fish to a puppy her freshman year at Wyoming, but then grew as a player with the help of her coaches. She would leave Wyoming among the leaders in several statistical categories and still is 13th in kills, seventh in service aces and 13th in digs.
She credits the coaching she received as a Cowgirl.
“I remember the coaching staff being so supportive of me and helping me grow as an athlete,” she said. “At the time, it was Mike English and his assistant was Carolyn Eide. I just remember Carolyn standing next to me, helping me with my worst skill, which was blocking, and just being on me the whole time. I remember her always being extremely positive and I remember her helping me grow as a player.
“I learned a lot of different coaching styles. I learned what I really liked about the staffs. Mike English would explain a skill, and not only would he explain a skill, he would explain why it is important and how you can use it. We had a full understanding of what to do with the ball when to came to us.”
With all of her experiences, Stucky said she learned who she wanted to be as a coach and who she didn’t want to be. She also credits then strength coach Jim Lathrop for guiding her coaching philosophy.
“He said, ‘the most important thing and wherever you go, if you are always yourself, then that’s the best coach that you can be.’ I’ve tried to carry that with me.”
She also tries to carry that philosophy down to her players.
“I fully believe that if the girls on the team know who I am and know what I am all about, they will buy in and they will play for me,” she said. “They’ll understand what I want and understand what I need from them and what I need out of my own life. They will appreciate that as they grow as adults themselves.”
Yerty calls Stucky a walking billboard for the University of Wyoming.
“Not only is she a wonderful role model and mentor for the young women, but she is remembered as a player here, she was a captain of her team her senior year, and she is a fabulous recruiter,” Yerty said. “I think the city of Laramie, they remember Jill, and I’m not stupid, I brought her back because I definitely think she can help our program go to another level.”
Stucky remembers the glory days of Wyoming volleyball and knows what it will take to get those days back. Although the young Cowgirl team is just 1-8, she said they already have the ball rolling as the team has bought in with everything they have asked of them. More importantly, she said they realize that they do love the sport of volleyball.
“With the kids buying in, every time we bring a recruit in, the team is so excited to tell them about how great the program is, how much they like the coaching staff and how the team is going to great places,” she said. “It’s just changing the attitude within our own home. When the girls realize that the players really love this and they appreciate this, we end up getting kids who are bigger, faster, stronger and our program develops from there.”
Stucky said that she also appreciates the fact that as her own girls grow up, they are going to have the opportunity to see strong, beautiful athletic women succeed in life.
“It is really important that I have good role models for my daughters,” she said. “Me staying in this profession automatically provides them with 12 to 15 of those role models all year that they can get to know, learn to love and model themselves after.”
Last weekend, the Cowgirls opened their home season going 1-2 against Kansas, Alabama-Birmingham and Cleveland State. Ironically, she scheduled the home-and-home series between KU and Wyoming two years ago, not knowing she would be returning.
Seeing the large and enthusiastic crowd cheer on the Cowgirls Saturday night brought her back.
“It made me feel so proud of where I came from, who I am and what I have become now again as a Wyoming Cowgirl,” she said.
Stucky is truly home again. It’s a home she said she hopes her husband and girls can love as much as she does.
“I am so unbelievably happy to be home. If it lasts forever, I would be as happy as I could be,” Stucky said.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
UW defense must step up at BYU
The Wyoming defense will have its biggest challenge of the season as it faces BYU on Saturday.
For more on the story: http://wyomingsportsfootball.blogspot.com/2008/09/slowing-down-cougars.html
Monday, September 15, 2008
Cowboy golfers improve at Ron Moore
by Wyoming Sports.org
DENVER -- The University of Wyoming men's golf team showed improvement and fired its best round of the Ron Moore Invitational on Tuesday, placing 16th.
“We played much better today than we did in the first two rounds. It was nice to see our guys come back after a tough day yesterday,” said Wyoming golf coach Joe Jensen. “This was just one of those tournaments where, with our young team, we pressed and put added pressure on ourselves. We have high expectations and goals but this week we let those affect us and didn’t play as well as we are capable. However, sometimes that is okay as long as we can learn from our mistakes.
“I am encouraged that, as a team, everyone is very close to playing the type of golf we expect to play. We haven’t quite turned the corner but we are getting closer to it.”
On Tuesday, the Cowboys shot their best round of the tournament with a team total of 304 (+16). The Cowboys finished with a three round total of 925 (+61) .
Individually, sophomore Zach Zaremba had the best day for the Cowboys and shot a 71 (-1) on Tuesday. Zaremba was UW’s highest finisher in the tournament with a 49th place score of 225 (+9). Sophomore Mike May concluded his best tournament of the fall by shooting a 76 (+4) on Tuesday. May finished the tournament with a season best 227 (+11) and tied for 58th place.
Colorado won the tournament with a three-round team score of 825 (-39). Air Force finished second and was the only other team under par with a three round total of 859 (-5).
After taking next weekend off, the Cowboys will continue the fall season in the William H. Tucker Invitational Sept. 26-27 in Albuquerque, N.M.
DENVER -- The University of Wyoming men's golf team showed improvement and fired its best round of the Ron Moore Invitational on Tuesday, placing 16th.
“We played much better today than we did in the first two rounds. It was nice to see our guys come back after a tough day yesterday,” said Wyoming golf coach Joe Jensen. “This was just one of those tournaments where, with our young team, we pressed and put added pressure on ourselves. We have high expectations and goals but this week we let those affect us and didn’t play as well as we are capable. However, sometimes that is okay as long as we can learn from our mistakes.
“I am encouraged that, as a team, everyone is very close to playing the type of golf we expect to play. We haven’t quite turned the corner but we are getting closer to it.”
On Tuesday, the Cowboys shot their best round of the tournament with a team total of 304 (+16). The Cowboys finished with a three round total of 925 (+61) .
Individually, sophomore Zach Zaremba had the best day for the Cowboys and shot a 71 (-1) on Tuesday. Zaremba was UW’s highest finisher in the tournament with a 49th place score of 225 (+9). Sophomore Mike May concluded his best tournament of the fall by shooting a 76 (+4) on Tuesday. May finished the tournament with a season best 227 (+11) and tied for 58th place.
Colorado won the tournament with a three-round team score of 825 (-39). Air Force finished second and was the only other team under par with a three round total of 859 (-5).
After taking next weekend off, the Cowboys will continue the fall season in the William H. Tucker Invitational Sept. 26-27 in Albuquerque, N.M.
BYU up next for Cowboys
Wyoming hits the road for the first time this season when it faces 14th-ranked BYU Saturday at Provo.Sunday, September 14, 2008
Cowgirls blank Gonzaga
by Wyoming sports.org
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Wyoming Cowgirls won their second straight game Sunday afternoon, defeating Gonzaga 1-0.
Senior Amanda Lathrop scored an early goal at the 8:32 mark for what proved to be the game-winner. The score came on a corner kick from sophomore Nichole Rice, and Lathrop put the ball into the right side of the net. Lathrop had three goals this weekend in the two wins.
“It was nice to get the early goal from Lathrop and play with a lead early in the game,” said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. “Our defense played well today. They were able to withstand the pressure that Gonzaga put on us after the early goal.”
Senior goalkeeper Jamie Scarcliff had three saves in the victory. Scarcliff and the rest of the Wyoming defense earned a pair of shutouts on the weekend road trip. The Cowgirls beat Idaho 3-0 on Friday.
“It’s great to win two games on the road against quality teams,” Sanchez said. “We played well in both games and I am pleased with our play.”
Wyoming will travel to Pocatello, Idaho for the Idaho State Classic next weekend. The Cowgirls will face Utah Valley State on Friday at 4 p.m., and then will play host school Idaho State on Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Wyoming Cowgirls won their second straight game Sunday afternoon, defeating Gonzaga 1-0.
Senior Amanda Lathrop scored an early goal at the 8:32 mark for what proved to be the game-winner. The score came on a corner kick from sophomore Nichole Rice, and Lathrop put the ball into the right side of the net. Lathrop had three goals this weekend in the two wins.
“It was nice to get the early goal from Lathrop and play with a lead early in the game,” said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. “Our defense played well today. They were able to withstand the pressure that Gonzaga put on us after the early goal.”
Senior goalkeeper Jamie Scarcliff had three saves in the victory. Scarcliff and the rest of the Wyoming defense earned a pair of shutouts on the weekend road trip. The Cowgirls beat Idaho 3-0 on Friday.
“It’s great to win two games on the road against quality teams,” Sanchez said. “We played well in both games and I am pleased with our play.”
Wyoming will travel to Pocatello, Idaho for the Idaho State Classic next weekend. The Cowgirls will face Utah Valley State on Friday at 4 p.m., and then will play host school Idaho State on Sunday starting at 2 p.m.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Cowboys vs. Bison football coverage
Cowboys come back from the dead to beat North Dakota State.Plays of the game: McMahen's interception, Scott's field goal.
Cowboys stick to run game
Cowgirls pick up first win
Richard Anderson photos
UW sophomores Dani Bedore, left, and Jenna Arneson block a shot by a Cleveland State player on Saturday night. At bottom, the Cowgirls celebrate a point in the three-game win.
By Richard AndersonWyoming Sports.org
There is no denying that winning brings out more smiles than just playing well.
The Wyoming Cowgirls were all smiles Saturday as they picked up their first win of the year with a three-game sweep of Cleveland State to close out the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic.
After opening the season with eight straight losses, including two heart-tugging five-game defeats to open the tournament, the Cowgirls were in complete control in the 25-18, 25-19, 25-21 triumph over the Vikings.
“One of our goals is to stay energized, just compete and have some fun,” Wyoming senior setter Tasha Weishahn said. “That is the biggest thing with this team right now, just to have fun. That’s what we went out to do and we did it. It was fun.”
Wyoming, which lost 90 percent of its offense due to graduation, went into the season with two tough road tournaments, including last week in Hawaii where the Cowgirls faced two Top 15 teams.
It’s been a growing process that grew even more playing in front of the home fans for the first time this season the last two days.
When the Cowgirls dropped the two five-game matches on Friday, Weishahn said it was frustrating, yet it gave them a sense of hope, knowing that they can play with good teams.
“We battled, we fought and we got better this weekend with our new lineup,” she said. “We went through some adversity, but we fought hard and it was good.”
The Cowgirls not only picked up their first win of the season, but gave Carrie Yerty her first victory as Wyoming head coach.
“We had some good matches and I don’t want to take away from the fact that they really challenged a Big 12 team (Kansas) and UAB (Alabama-Birmingham), we went five with them and they have gone to the NCAA Tournament,” Yerty said. “Cleveland State went to the NCAA Tournament the last two years, so that is a good win for us. It was a good starting point and we got the big goose egg off of our back and now we can just play.”
For much of this young season, Weishahn, along with libero Carissa Lee and libero turned outside hitter Samantha Eley have been the lone beacon of experience on a very young team that is dominated with sophomores.
One of the top setters in the Mountain West Conference, Weishahn’s numbers were a little low through the first six matches. Those numbers got a boost in this tournament.
“They are all sophomores and all are pretty young for the most part,” Weishahn said. “They are starting to get comfortable, playing some matches, and they are starting to get into a groove. We are playing well right now.”
Weishahn added that every hitter is a little different to set to and she is beginning to get a feel of what each athlete likes to hit.
“We have a libero playing outside, so she is just hitting high balls right now,” Weishahn said. “Jenna Arneson is playing middle and she is just so diverse athletically, she can hit just about anything. It is a lot of fun; I can run a lot of offense.”
Against Cleveland State, Wyoming controlled much of the match and even when the Vikings would make a late run, the Cowgirls never let that run get out of hand.
Yerty said they did a better job of maintaining their composure and showed marked improvement with their serving game. Wyoming had 34 service errors in the first two matches, but just three against the Vikings.
“Tonight, we did a really good job, missing just three serves in three games, which is a great average to have,” Yerty said. “The girls competed hard and executed a lot better and didn’t get frazzled in tight situations, which is what we focused on.
“I think in the tight situations, we did a better job of handling what we were supposed to do, as to what the other side was doing. We’re young, so we’re teaching them to be aggressive and we’re really trying to talk about composure.”
Sophomore Dani Bedore led the way on Saturday with 14 kills, with sophomore Lauren Whitney and JennaRae Jester adding nine kills each. Weishahn had eight kills, along with 32 assists and Arneson added six kills. Wyoming hit .396 on the night.
Both Bedore and Weishahn were named to the all-tournament team.
“Danni had a great night tonight and Tasha set a wonderful tournament,” Yerty said.
UAB won the tournament, with Kansas finishing second. Also named to the all-tournament team were Aleksandra Vujovic and Ivana Bozic, both of UAB and Kansas teammates Karina Garlington and Natalie Uhart. UAB’s Casey Dent was named the tournament’s most valuable player.
Wyoming will open up conference play next week by hosting BYU (Friday) and Utah (Saturday) Both matches are set to begin at 7 p.m.
UW tennis concludes home tourney
by Wyoming Sports.org
After two days of rainy conditions, the sunshine was welcomed Saturday as the Cowgirls finished the University of Wyoming Invitational at the UW tennis Complex.
Saturday's nice weather enabled the six teams to catch up on the matches that were hampered by rain in the first two days of the tournament.
“I am pleased with the way we performed,” UW head coach Kati Gyulai said. “Newcomer Ronnie Spencer had a strong showing and I want to congratulate her. We look forward to getting back on the court and to improving before our next tournament.”
In singles play, Spencer came out and proved to be a strong member of the team. Spencer battled against her Montana State opponent, Andrea De La Torre, in three sets, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 to earn a trip to the finals. Spencer then won the finals by default. The rest of the Cowgirls also finished strong as they competed for a spot in the finals. Sophomore Carly Van Hollen won her first match of the day earning a trip to the finals. Van Hollen then fell in the finals to Greer Satherlie (CSU) 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Brittany DeFelice and junior Sarah Summerfield had another chance to play in the back draws. DeFelice defeated Markay Mullen (WSU) 6-0, 6-1. Summerfield was also successful, defeating Greyce Farias (WSU) 6-3, 6-3.
The tournament also finished the doubles brackets from Thursday. In the back draw doubles, Carolina Chaix and Spencer won their final match against Pyne and Mullen (WSU), winning 8-3. Jamie Nelson and Virginia Iwinksi also won their final match against Ciarvella and Whateley from UNC, 8-6. Rebecca Berger and Summerfield competed for third defeating another Wyoming doubles team, DeFelice and Van Hollen 8-0.
After two days of rainy conditions, the sunshine was welcomed Saturday as the Cowgirls finished the University of Wyoming Invitational at the UW tennis Complex.
Saturday's nice weather enabled the six teams to catch up on the matches that were hampered by rain in the first two days of the tournament.
“I am pleased with the way we performed,” UW head coach Kati Gyulai said. “Newcomer Ronnie Spencer had a strong showing and I want to congratulate her. We look forward to getting back on the court and to improving before our next tournament.”
In singles play, Spencer came out and proved to be a strong member of the team. Spencer battled against her Montana State opponent, Andrea De La Torre, in three sets, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 to earn a trip to the finals. Spencer then won the finals by default. The rest of the Cowgirls also finished strong as they competed for a spot in the finals. Sophomore Carly Van Hollen won her first match of the day earning a trip to the finals. Van Hollen then fell in the finals to Greer Satherlie (CSU) 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Brittany DeFelice and junior Sarah Summerfield had another chance to play in the back draws. DeFelice defeated Markay Mullen (WSU) 6-0, 6-1. Summerfield was also successful, defeating Greyce Farias (WSU) 6-3, 6-3.
The tournament also finished the doubles brackets from Thursday. In the back draw doubles, Carolina Chaix and Spencer won their final match against Pyne and Mullen (WSU), winning 8-3. Jamie Nelson and Virginia Iwinksi also won their final match against Ciarvella and Whateley from UNC, 8-6. Rebecca Berger and Summerfield competed for third defeating another Wyoming doubles team, DeFelice and Van Hollen 8-0.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Plainsmen fall to Sheridan
The Sheridan Broncs took advantage of Laramie mistakes to roll past the Plainsmen 32-3 Friday night at Deti Stadium.Fore more on the sotry: http://wyomingsportsyouth.blogspot.com/2008/09/broncs-roll-past-plainsmen.html
Cowgirl soccer blanks Idaho
By Wyoming Sports.org
MOSCOW, Idaho -- The University of Wyoming Cowgirls earned a victory away from home for the first time this season, blanking Idaho 3-0 on Friday.
"Today, I was very pleased with the effort on offense and defense. We scored on great opportunities and beat a good Idaho team," said UW head coach Danny Sanchez.
The Cowgirls got on the board early at the 23:18 mark when senior Amanda Lathrop scored her first of two goals on the day on an unassisted play. The Cowgirls had the lead at halftime, 1-0.
In the second half, junior Emily Layton scored her fourth goal of the season on a pass from Lathrop in the 54th minute. Later, Lathrop added her second unassisted goal of the day at the 66:53 minute to put the Cowgirls ahead 3-0. The Cowgirls out-shot Idaho 20-6 for the game.
"Our offense played aggressive and took a lot of quality shots," Sanchez said. "I feel like we have some momentum now going into the next game."
Senior Jamie Scarcliff was back as the Cowgirls goalkeeper after suffering an injury against Montana last Sunday. She played the entire 90 minutes and had one save. Scarcliff and the Cowgirls allowed only one Idaho shot in the second half.
Wyoming will continue the road trip on Sunday when the Cowgirls face Gonzaga at 1 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.
MOSCOW, Idaho -- The University of Wyoming Cowgirls earned a victory away from home for the first time this season, blanking Idaho 3-0 on Friday.
"Today, I was very pleased with the effort on offense and defense. We scored on great opportunities and beat a good Idaho team," said UW head coach Danny Sanchez.
The Cowgirls got on the board early at the 23:18 mark when senior Amanda Lathrop scored her first of two goals on the day on an unassisted play. The Cowgirls had the lead at halftime, 1-0.
In the second half, junior Emily Layton scored her fourth goal of the season on a pass from Lathrop in the 54th minute. Later, Lathrop added her second unassisted goal of the day at the 66:53 minute to put the Cowgirls ahead 3-0. The Cowgirls out-shot Idaho 20-6 for the game.
"Our offense played aggressive and took a lot of quality shots," Sanchez said. "I feel like we have some momentum now going into the next game."
Senior Jamie Scarcliff was back as the Cowgirls goalkeeper after suffering an injury against Montana last Sunday. She played the entire 90 minutes and had one save. Scarcliff and the Cowgirls allowed only one Idaho shot in the second half.
Wyoming will continue the road trip on Sunday when the Cowgirls face Gonzaga at 1 p.m. in Spokane, Wash.
Cowgirls fall short against Kansas, UAB
Richard Anderson photos
From left, Tasha Weishahn, Sam Eley and JennaRae Jester get ready to receive the serve Friday against Kansas. At bottom, Jenna Arneson returns a shot against the Jayhawks.
By Richard AndersonWyoming Sports.org
By putting your thumb and index finger together as near as you can without touching, you can measure how close the Wyoming Cowgirls came to knocking off Big 12 foe Kansas Friday morning in the first match of the UniWyo Cowgirl Classic at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
Yes, the Cowgirls missed it by that much.
Kansas (5-2) battled back after two opening losses to edge Wyoming 27-29, 23-25, 25-23, 26-24 and 20-18.
Each game was that close as well.
“I’m really pleased with their effort. I’m really pleased with their performance and execution,” Wyoming head coach Carrie Yerty said of her first home match of her career at UW. “For the most part they executed the game plan well and they did a good job at mixing up shots. We did a great job with our ball control.”
Close but no cigar was the theme of the day for the Cowgirls, as Alabama-Birmingham held on for another five-game thriller later that night, beating the Cowgirls 25-14, 25-19, 26-28 and 19-17.
Along with Yerty, several players competed for the first time in front of the home fans against Kansas, including sophomore transfer Dani Bedore. Although the young Cowgirls have yet to break into the win column, it’s not from a lack of effort.
“We did a really good job; we were really competitive,” Bedore said. “KU is a really good team. We did a good job of staying excited and everything. I think we can compete. Our coach tells us to compete every day in what we do. As long as we compete, we’re OK.”
That was certainly the case against Kansas. While Wyoming out-hit the Jayhawks and basically out-played them the entire match, the two things UW didn’t finish was serving and making the plays at match-point. Wyoming, which tried the short serve to off-set the bigger and stronger Kansas middle attack, had 13 service errors, to just one ace. The Cowgirls also had five chances at match-point -- one in the fourth game and four in the fifth and deciding game.
“For us, anytime we get match point, the staff and the team really have to find a calmness because they really want to win so bad,” Yerty said. “They’ve worked so hard and they are such good kids, they are pleasers. We’re going to have game-point again and we’re going to terminate on those game points and we’ll execute on those game-points.”
Offensively, senior Tasha Weishahn ran a strong game with 67 set assists in the match, easily a season-high. Weishahn’s diversity in distribution enabled Bedore and fellow sophomores JennaRae Jester, Lauren Whitney and Jenna Arneson to all have double-digit kills matches. Bedore led the way with 21 kills, followed by Jester with 17, Arneson with 14 and Whitney with 13. Wyoming hit .309 in the five games.
“I think Tasha set one of the best matches of her life today. She has to do a really good job of manipulating our offense to open up hitters; especially playing Kansas, which is traditionally a very strong team in the Big 12,” Yerty said. “She was solid, she was a rock. She was on auto pilot like a senior setter should be. That’s why she is our captain.
“J-Rae is a player who just plays smart. She might not be the most athletic player on the court, but she will beat people because she is smart. Danni is a tank. She is a freight train. That’s exciting to have that for a few more years.”
Bedore said they are becoming solid on and off the court.
“We all get along really well. We accept everybody with what they bring into the team,” Bedore said. “We’ve been practicing really hard, competing for everything.”
Despite the loss to the Jayhawks, Yerty said her young team is competing with composure.
“I’m really proud of this team,” she said. “They really played well, but that is what I expect from them and they know that. That’s not going to be something that just shows up every now and again, that’s how we should play especially when we are at home.”
Kansas, which hit .278, was led by Karina Garlington with 23 kills and Natalie Uhart and Savannah Noyes with 15 kills each.
Against UAB, the Cowgirls overcame a slow start this time and nearly pull out the win in the deciding fifth game.
“I think we came out real slow to begin the match,” Yerty said. “I’m not sure if that was because we were satisfied with how we played against Kansas earlier in the day or thought we would play at that same level. It took us to game three to get jump-started and then the players showed a tremendous amount of heart to come back and win those games. In game five, we had opportunities to win and at critical times we made key errors that we could control. The players understand what they need to do.”
Four Cowgirls finished the match in double figures, led by Whitney with a career high 20 kills. Arneson added 13, Jester had 12 and Bedore 10. Carissa Lee led the way with 19 digs.
The Cowgirls, 0-8, will continue to look for that elusive first win Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. against Cleveland State.
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