Sign Up | Lost Password

VB: Cowgirls Overcome Rally From Lobos, Win 4-1

Nov. 18, 2011

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - No. 4 seed Wyoming defeated fifth-seeded New Mexico, 3-1, in the quarterfinal of the Mountain West Volleyball Championship at Johnson Center on Friday night. With the win, the Cowgirls move on to the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. MT Saturday, Nov. 19, where they will face top-seeded Colorado State, who swept Air Force 3-0 in their quarterfinal Friday. The match will be televised live on The Mtn.

Wyoming was able to squeak out a pair of close ones, 25-23 and 27-25, to take a 2-0 advantage. But New Mexico was able to force a fourth set with a 25-20 victory in the third. The Cowgirls put it away, however, with a 25-21 win in the fourth.

"We knew coming in here that it would be a battle and that they would be ready to play," said Wyoming coach Carrie Yerty. "To turn around and play the Lobos again just after a seven-day hiatus is a difficult thing and I am really proud of my girls for battling even when it wasn't the greatest volleyball."

Three Cowgirls notched double-doubles on the evening as Jodi Purdy led the effort up front with 13 kills while adding 11 digs for her conference-leading 21st double-double of the season. Calli Miller came up with 18 digs and 11 kills and Rachel Keyes rounded out the night with 10 digs and 30 assists. In the absence of Mountain West leader in kills and total points, New Mexico's Ashley Rhoades, who was sidelined late in the first set with a leg injury, Kelly Williamson finished with a career-high 23 kills.

For the Cowgirls, it was their first win in 10 tries in MW Volleyball Championship play after coming into Friday's match-up 0-9.

"Well, I think that our team has had an opportunity to do something we've never done before," Miller said. "We really just have a lot of chemistry on this team and it's a really special team. We're just going out there playing our butts off. It's really been a great year for us so far; and it's not over."

With the win the Cowgirls' season continues and their record improves to 21-10, while the Lobos finished the season with an overall record of 14-14.

Courtesy the MW Conference