Watch How Wyoming Volleyball Has High Hopes For 2019

Wyoming volleyball began their fall camp practices with a pair of sessions last Saturday in the Uni-Wyo Sports Complex.

Head coach Chad Callihan is entering his seventh season at the helm of the program. Last year the Cowgirls went 20-11 overall, finished in third in the Mountain West Conference and advanced to postseason play for the second consecutive year. With an experienced team back for 2019, a lot is expected of Wyoming volleyball again.

In the video above, Callihan believes his team will be “pretty good.” He likes how he has more players to rely on for this season. Callihan talks about the strength of schedule and knows it will be tough. With getting to the NCAA Tournament a goal, this schedule is poised to help the Cowgirls. Callihan also discusses his team and look ahead to what they can do.

Wyoming returns three starters in seniors Tara Traphagan and Halie McArdle, plus junior Jackie McBride. Also, senior libero Madi Fields is back, plus four other letter winners and a redshirt. Five newcomers join the Cowgirls for 2019.

Traphagan spoke with KOWB’s David Settle about taking the next step, their schedule, her senior year, and more.

Callihan has 122 wins over six years with the team. That has him only two wins away from tying former coach Mike English, as the winningest coach in program history. He already has the best winning percentage, at .649, in program history.

The Cowgirls will hold their Brown and Gold scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 23. They will have an exhibition match against Nebraska-Kearney in Cheyenne on Saturday, Aug. 24.

The official start to the season is Aug. 30 and 31 at the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, CO. Wyoming hosts just one non-conference tournament, the Rumble in the Rockies, Sept. 6 and 7, in Laramie. Seven of the Cowgirls 11 non-league matches will be against teams that competed in the postseason in 2018.

Mountain West Conference play will start at home on Sept. 26 versus UNLV.