Cowgirls Open 2025 This Weekend Inside the Arena-Auditorium with the Rumble in the Rockies

UW hosts Tulsa, Cleveland State and Colorado

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Aug. 27, 2025) – The 2025 Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team officially opens its third campaign under Head Coach Kaylee Prigge this weekend with its annual Rumble in the Rockies Tournament. Every match of the tournament will be played inside the Arena-Auditorium.

The Cowgirls open the season with a 6:30 p.m., contest Friday against Tulsa. Saturday, UW welcomes Cleveland State for another 6:30 match. Wyoming closes the tournament at 1 p.m., Sunday against Colorado. All three matches will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network. The Cowgirls were picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the Preseason Mountain West Poll. Paige Lauterwasser was named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team.

Wyoming returns a pair of All-Mountain West honorees for 2025 in Sarah Holcomb and Lauterwasser. Lauterwasser, who was named to the All-Mountain West Team in 2024, ranked ninth in the league in kills per set with 3.31 and was eighth in points per, averaging 3.65 a set. Lauterwasser led the Cowgirls in both categories with 404 kills and 445 points while playing in every set. Holcomb, meanwhile, was named Honorable Mention All-MW after leading the league in both total blocks (167) and blocks per set (1.37). The 167 blocks are the eighth-most for a single season in program history. Holcomb’s .339 hitting percentage ranked eighth in the conference.

The Cowgirls also return starters Skylar Erickson and Emma Winter to the squad. Erickson played in all 122 sets a season ago and tallied 203 digs while tying for the team lead with 36 service aces. Winter was second on the team with 286 kills and 2.4 per set last season. Claire Wagstaff also saw time as a starter last season during conference play. She averaged two kills and just under one block per set in 2024.

Also returning to the 2025 edition of the Cowgirls are Rya Fingerlin, Abi Milby, Jordan Sandy, Reagan Sharp, Maddy Stucky, Addy Thorington and Evelyn Udezue. Five incoming freshmen are new to the squad this season in Addy Cook, Jillian Gregory, Lily LaFlesch, Sara Quigley and Anna Williams.

Tulsa went 18-11 last season and finished fifth in the American Conference. This season, the Golden Hurricane were picked sixth in the preseason poll. Tulsa is led by Preseason All-Conference selection Brayden Hipp who averaged 6.45 assists and 2.89 digs per set last season. The Golden Hurricane must replace last season's American Conference Libero of the Year, Marta Pecalli, along with First Team All-Conference selection Tyti Johnson. Beth Bayless, who was third on the team in 2024 with 204 kills, is the leading returner for Tulsa for offensive production. The Golden Hurricane went 8-4 in road matches last season.

Cleveland State went 23-10 last season with one of those losses coming at home in four sets to the Cowgirls. The Vikings won the Horizon League in 2024 and played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Kentucky. Cleveland State looks to replace a trio of All-Horizon League First Team performers from 2024, including a First Team All-Freshman selection. JeriLynn Koehler is the leading returning offensive threat for CSU, after tallying 208 kills and hitting .302 last season. The Vikings went 7-7 in road matches in 2024.

Colorado posted a 13-17 mark in 2024 and went 5-6 in road contests. The Cowgirls defeated the Buffs in four sets last season in Boulder. CU is led by Second Team All-Big 12 honoree, Ana Burilovic. Burilovic, who was tabbed as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection this season, was seventh in the Big 12 in points per set with 4.12. Her 3.55 kills per set ranked eighth-best in the league. Sarah Morton returns for her senior campaign in 2025 after leading the Buffs with 350 digs last season. Cayla Payne returns after leading Colorado with 128 (1.08) blocks in 2024.