It's a First Place Showdown Between Broncos and Cowgirls

Wyoming (4-0) at Boise State (4-0)
Boise, Idaho (Bronco Gym)

MATCH 5
DATE: Friday, Feb. 19
TIME: 2 p.m. MT
FOLLOW THE ACTION: Live Stream (MW Network) | Live Scoring

MATCH 6
DATE: Saturday, Feb. 20
TIME: 12 p.m. MT
FOLLOW THE ACTION: Live Stream (MW Network) | Live Scoring

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WHAT'S NEXT: Boise State wraps up a four-match homestand this weekend when the Wyoming Cowgirls come to town for a battle between the top two teams in the Mountain West standings. The Broncos and Cowgirls enter the week tied for first place at 4-0 overall. The first contest will be at 2 p.m. (MT) on Friday followed by the rematch at 12 p.m. on Saturday, both matches will be in Bronco Gym.

FOLLOW THE ACTION: COVID-19 safety measures are in place at Boise State which means a limited number of student-athlete family members can attend, but no other fans will be allowed to attend this week's matches versus Wyoming. The only way to follow this week's action is by going to the volleyball schedule on BroncoSports.com and clicking on the appropriate "Live Scoring" and/or "Live Stream" links for the particular match you want to follow. The live stream is free of charge courtesy of the Mountain West Network.

SCOUTING WYOMING: The Cowgirls have opened the season winning their first four matches of the season versus Utah State and New Mexico, the last three contests in straight sets. They returned four starters, seven letterwinners and added eight newcomers. They went 22-9 overall and 16-2 in MW play to place second in 2020. They are led by Preseason All-MW honoree Jackie McBride (middle blocker) who is hitting a league-best .470.

SCOUTING BOISE STATE: Boise State has also opened the 2021 spring campaign undefeated sweeping a road series at San Jose State by 3-1 scores, followed by a home sweep over Utah State by 3-0 scores. The Broncos went 18-12 overall in 2019 and 10-8 in conference to place fourth, they also advanced to the NIVC. The Blue and Orange return five starters and the libero, as well as 11 members of the 2019 squad. In addition to the 11 returners, Boise State added four recruits to this year's team.

MW PRESEASON POLL: The Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll projected Boise State to place fourth and Wyoming third.

THE BOISE STATE Vs. WYOMING SERIES: This rivalry enters its 27th and 28th meeting all-time this week with Wyoming holding a slim 14-12 advantage overall. Boise State leads 7-3 in matches played at Boise, while the Cowgirls swept both encounters in 2019, 3-1 in Boise and 3-0 in Laramie.

SHAWN GARUS RECORDS 200TH WIN: Boise State head coach Shawn Garus recorded his 200th win at Boise State last week when the Broncos swept Utah State (Feb. 12-13) to reach the milestone with the second victory. Garus, who is in his 12th season with the program, currently stands at 200-144, his career record stands at 308-263 in 20 years. Garus ranks second in total wins in program history, out of 10 coaches all-time. At Boise State, he has recorded nine winning seasons overall, including an active streak of six straight. He has three seasons (2010, 2015, 2016) with 20-plus wins.

WEEK TWO RECAP: Boise State opened a four-match homestand last week by sweeping Utah State 3-0, 3-0. The Broncos won the first two sets in each match easily, then were forced to hold off the Aggies who attempted to rally in the third to claim the victories. Boise State hit .217 with 82 kills, 11 service aces and 25 blocks on the week, while USU countered at .143 percent hitting with 78 kills, five service aces and 14 blocks.

WEEK TWO LEADERS: Lauren Ohlinger led the Broncos overall on the week tallying a team-high 22 kills with 11 digs and 10 blocks. Jessica Donahue hit 32 percent for 20 kills with 17 blocks, 11 in the first match versus the Aggies. Danielle Boss led the offense as the setter recording eight kills, a team-high 63 assists, eight digs and eight blocks.

BRONCO SEASON LEADERS: Lauren Ohlinger leads the team with 52 kills (3.71 kps), 32 digs (2.29 dps) and 14 blocks (1.0 bps). Freshman Kayly Pau is second in kills with 41 (2.93 kps) to go with six blocks. Jessica Donahue is hitting .382 — fourth in MW — for 36 kills (2.57 kps) with 30 blocks (2.14 bps).

BOSS RANKED EIGHTH FOR ASSISTS: Danielle Boss enters the season ranked eighth during the rally scoring era (2001 to present) at Boise State for career assists with 1,767, she had 1,113 as a sophomore in 2019.

BOSS DISTRIBUTING THE BALL: Danielle Boss enters the week third in the Mountain West and 71st nationally for assists per set 9.79, her total is 137.

DONAHUE RANKED FOURTH NATIONALLY: Jessica Donahue is currently ranked fourth nationally and first in the MW for blocks per set at 2.14, her current total is 30.

DONAHUE ANCHORS THE BLUE WALL: Jessica Donahue started the season ranked fourth during the rally scoring era (2001 to present) at Boise State for career blocks with 311. She now sits at 328 overall. The junior tallied 163 in 2019, third most all-time and six short of tying the school record. The 163 blocks also led the MW and was ranked 11th nationally.

CASILLAS RANKED 15TH NATIONALLY: Sophomore Allison Casillas is currently ranked 15th nationally and third in the MW for service aces per set at 0.71. The native of Fontana, Calif., recorded a season-high five versus Utah State on Feb. 13.

DEBUT PERFORMANCES: Four Broncos saw their first action in the season opening series Feb. 4-5 at San Jose State. Chey Jones (7 kills, 2 digs, 5 blocks) started both contests, Annie Kaminski (13 kills, 1 assist, 1 dig, 6 blocks) started in one of two played, while Kayly Pau (21 kills, 2 digs, 5 blocks) and Jolei Akima (5 assists, 16 digs) played in both coming in off the bench.

OHLINGER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-MW: Boise State sophomore Lauren Ohlinger was named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team. She was one of eight student-athletes and only Bronco selected to the team by the league's coaches. The native of Phoenix, Ariz., was the 2019 MW Freshman of the Year after leading Boise State in kills with 329 and points with 395.0 — ranked ninth and 10th, respectively, in the league — and averaged a team-high 2.96 kills per set — 10th in the MW.

BOISE STATE RETURNS THREE POSTSEASON HONOREES: The Broncos return three of their four 2019 postseason MW honorees this spring. Back with the Broncos are Jessica Donahue who was All-MW, Danielle Boss received All-MW Honorable Mention accolades, while Ohlinger was the MW Freshman of the Year. The lone honoree not back after graduating last May is Janell Walley who was All-MW three-times.

ABBREVIATED SCHEDULE FORMAT: As a result of the pandemic, the Mountain West Conference has moved to a conference only 16-match schedule this spring. The format has teams playing the same opponent twice during the first six weeks, then playing the remaining four MW schools once each in the final three weeks ending April 3. As a result, the Broncos face Utah State twice this week, followed by a two-match home series versus Wyoming Feb. 19-20.