LARAMIE – Recording her second double-double of the season, senior Kayla Slofkiss helped guide the University of Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team over Fresno State on Saturday afternoon in the UniWyo Sports Complex.
The Cowgirls (9-6 overall, 2-0 MW) swept the Bulldogs, 3-0 (25-14, 25-22, 25-20) for their sixth-consecutive straight-set win in Laramie. Additionally, UW is 6-0 at home this season, with all six wins by way of three sets.
“We want to gain confidence each week,” UW head coach Chad Callihan said. “Just because it is now conference play, I don’t think that stops. Our passing and defense was much better these past two matches. We will need that every week. Starting conference play with two wins was important for us and I hope we keep that same defensive intensity on the road with the next few matches.”
Slofkiss posted a match-high 11 kills as well as 11 digs to help UW secure its third-straight victory. She also recorded four total blocks. Senior Laura Beach, who was awarded the Mike English Scholarship at the beginning of the match, chipped in eight kills, and four blocks, while fellow senior Courtney Chacon led both squads with 31 assists on Saturday.
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Chacon moved into sixth place on the all-time assist list at UW and now has 2,752 assists for her career. She continues to pace Wyoming in assists, as she has led the Cowgirls in each match this season. It was the sixth time this year she has passed out 30 or more assists.
Freshman Madi Fields recorded double-digit digs for the second time in her career. Field’s was two off her career-high of 16, as she had 14 against Fresno State on Saturday. She also added a match-best two service aces for the Brown and Gold. Sophomore Reed Copeland smashed home seven kills against the Bulldogs, in addition to her three total blocks. Redshirt freshman Bayly Poor added six kills, while sophomore Emily Lewis had four for the Cowgirls.
During the opening set, Slofkiss led both teams with five kills. Copeland and Poor added three for UW. Chacon dished out 13 assists, while Fields had eight digs. The second stanza had seven tied scores and four lead changes before the Cowgirls claimed six of the last seven points.
Slofkiss once again had five kills, as Chacon recorded ten assists. Fresno State jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the final frame. Wyoming then tied the score at ten, and lead 14-11 before the Bulldogs called timeout. Beach and Copeland each posted three kills during the third set. Beach eventually closed out the match with her eighth kill to seal the Cowgirl victory.
Wyoming will continue MW play at Utah State next Saturday. The match is set for 6:00 p.m. MT in Logan, Utah.
