COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two Mountain West programs will represent the MW in the 2023 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) after UNLV and Wyoming accepted bids to the postseason.
The Rebels are led by first-year head coach Malia Shoji, who guided the squad to a 19-12 season and an 11-7 Mountain West record. UNLV faces Sacramento State (21-11) on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. PT, in Sacramento, California.
Offensively, Isabel Martin leads the Rebels with 500 kills (4.31 per set) on the season and setter Arien Fafard has posted 932 assists (8.18 per set). Defensively, libero Caleigh King has registered a reception percentage of .927 on 496 attempts and Jordyn Freeman has tallied 118 blocks (1.02 per set) over the 2023 season.
The Cowgirls are also led by a first-year head coach Kaylee Prigge, who led Wyoming to a 20-9 overall record and a 9-9 Conference record. Wyoming had a historical start to the season, going 11-0 for the first time in program history and only the third time in Conference history. The Cowgirls are set to face South Dakota (18-10) on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. MT, at Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado.
Offensively, Wyoming’s Rylee Schulz and Tierney Barlow lead the team with 354 kills (3.25 kills per set) and 324 kills (2.97 kills per set), respectively. Setter Kasia Partyka posted 1,163 assists on the season (10.67 per set). Defensively, Sierra Grizzle recorded 281 digs (2.58 digs per set) on the season, while teammates Sarah Holcomb and Barlow have logged 127 blocks (1.23 per set) and 124 blocks (1.14 per set) on the season, respectively.
