Things definitely haven’t been easy for head volleyball coach Kaylee Prigge and her squad this season.
After winning their opening two matches of the non-conference slate, the Cowgirls suffered a five game losing streak and won just two of their last nine games after starting the season 2-0. The first two matches of the UniWyo Invite–which stood as some of their final tune ups before Mountain West play began–went down as a pair of devastating five set losses where the Cowgirls were edged by just two points in the final sets of both contests.
The margins were thin, but the Cowgirls’ record still stood at a daunting 4-7 after the dust settled on the non-conference portion of their schedule. With Mountain West conference play just around the corner, things weren’t going to get any easier for this young team.
The first conference showdown would be against none other than the Cowgirls’ border war rival, Colorado State. After blitzing the Rams in the first two sets, the Cowgirls allowed the Rams to claw their way back to a fifth set, one that the Cowgirls sealed the win by just two points.
Just a week earlier, that would have been a two point loss.
“I’m not sure if we would have been able to pull that out if we weren’t to have the experience that we did in non-con,” junior outside hitter Paige Lauterwasser said.
The Cowgirls’ momentum from that one carried through to a dominating sweep of Air Force. The following week, the Cowgirls found themselves on the road against two tough opponents, Grand Canyon and New Mexico. While both those contests again came down to the wire, the Cowgirls once again found a way to win, earning a 4-0 mark to start league play.
Claire Wagstaff called match point!! 😤❌ pic.twitter.com/9rWPzllpOl
— Wyoming Cowgirl Volleyball (@WYO_Volleyball) October 3, 2025
How in the world did this young team turn their fortunes around so quickly?
“I think we played a lot of really good teams in the non-conference and we’re a young team. I think it just took us some time,” Prigge said. “Confidence is earned and you have to be in some moments like [the UniWyo Invite] to figure that out.”
The Cowgirls have also seen a number of young players emerge and improve throughout the course of the season. Setter Sara Quigley most recently earned Freshman of the Week honors for a pair of double-double performances against Grand Canyon and New Mexico. Freshman outside hitter Jillian Gregory was crucial in the tight victory over Colorado State with a career high 16 kills.
Quigley Named Old Trapper Mountain West Freshman of the Week
— Wyoming Cowgirl Volleyball (@WYO_Volleyball) October 6, 2025
📰 | https://t.co/saRe1tjJWo pic.twitter.com/cASLIjEUCv
“You’re just seeing a lot of people step up,” Prigge said.
However, redshirt freshman Maddy Stucky beginning to balance setting duties with Quigley may be making the biggest difference in conference play.
“It spreads out our offense [and] it forces the defense of other teams, especially their block, to honor everyone and not be able to scheme as much against us,” Prigge said of using both setters in the rotation.
“It takes some pressure off of our middles and opens some things up for them as well, so I think it’s been a no-brainer and really paid off.”
The list could go on and on.
The Cowgirls will need to be firing on all cylinders in their upcoming matchups if they want to continue to top the league, however.
The preseason picked league champion and similarly thus far undefeated Utah State rolls into Laramie on Thursday, presenting the biggest challenge of the conference slate so far for the Cowgirls.
Then, 3-1 Boise State will challenge the Cowgirls on their home floor in a pair of weekend matches Prigge and her staff are certainly not overlooking.
“Utah State is probably the best offensive team in the league and statistically Boise State is arguably the best defensive team in the league,” Prigge said. “I think we are the best [overall] team in the league, and you have to play both to win every day.
“So, can we be that consistently?”
