LARAMIE, Wyo.— The LIU Volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Wyoming Monday evening to conclude the Buffs Invitational, 25-16, 25-18, 25-15.

Wyoming stormed out strong in their home opener with a 10-4 lead. LIU used kills from seniors Amanda Hubbard and Kora Schaberl along with a pair of Wyoming errors to cut the lead down to three at 11-8. But the Cowgirls continued hit well on the outside using a 5-2 stretch to jump ahead 17-10. That was the cushion the home team needed, ending the first set on a LIU error to earn a 25-16 opening set win.

The second set saw the Cowgirls jump out to an early 4-1 favor. But the Sharks chipped back to within one point on a pair of kills and service from junior Jovana Stekovic along with a kill from freshman Karolina Nova to bring the score to 6-5. After both teams traded a kill Wyoming used a 10-2 stretch to take a 17-7 favor. LIU looked to find its footing later in the set with a five-point run on kills from Stekovic, junior Kristina Mamic and freshman Miranda Strongman along with a block assist from Nova and Strongman to bring the set score to 20-15. Wyoming closed the set on a 5-3 advantage to earn the 28-15 set win.

Both teams traded points to start the third set with the Sharks using a kill by freshman Darragh Dixon to take a 6-5 lead. After more back-and-forth play, Wyoming went on a 9-2 run to take a commanding 16-9 advantage. LIU used a pair of errors and kill from Nova to cut the deficit down to four. The Cowgirls used one final run to close the set 25-14 to take the match.

Stekovic led the Sharks with eight kills to go along with five digs and service ace. Nova added seven kills and six digs for LIU. Senior Amanda Hubbard and Dixon both tallied 13 assists for the Sharks. Senior Natalia Rivera led the defense with 11 digs.

UP NEXT

LIU will stay out west and compete at the BYU Doterra Classic against BYU, Weber State and Sam Houston State next weekend. Competition begins on Thursday, September 5 at 9:00 p.m. against the ninth ranked Cougars.