Broncos Drop Battle to Wyoming in Four Sets

Thursday, November 6

Boise, Idaho

6 p.m.

Boise State

15-9,7-6Mountain West

Wyoming

13-11,9-4Mountain West

Wyoming

Boise St.

11/6/2025 9:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Ari Bilby had a team-high 13 kills in the loss

BOISE, Idaho – Despite a spark in the third set, Boise State could not slow down Wyoming as the Broncos fell to the Cowgirls in four sets (25-17, 25-18, 20-25, 25-16) on Thursday in Bronco Gym.

In a match between two teams in the top-four of the Mountain West standings, the Broncos (15-9, 7-6 MW) gained momentum with a hard-fought win in the third after dropping the first two sets. However, in the fourth and final set, the two sides combined for 101 total attacks, with Wyoming (13-11, 9-4 MW) being more efficient on its 46 swings to pick up its third win in a row.

The loss by the Broncos also created a split between Wyoming and Boise State in the season series. The Broncos won in Laramie on Oct. 11.

Arianna Bilby was the lone Bronco to reach double-figures in kills. The outside hitter had 13 kills on a .219 hitting percentage as well as eight digs and four blocks.

Sydney Dreves and Kailyn Jager each had nine kills.

For the match, Wyoming out-hit Boise State, .231 to .141. The Cowgirls had three attackers in double-digits for kills, led by Sarah Holcomb's 14.

In the first two sets, Wyoming was above .300 in its attack percentage while Boise State was .138 or lower. Wyoming won the first set behind 18 kills to Boise State's eight. But in the second, the Broncos had 14 kills to the Cowgirls' 13. However, Boise State could not get around the Wyoming defense as the Cowgirls forced the Broncos into nine attack errors and registered five blocks.

The Broncos turned the corner in the third as they were lifted by five kills on five attacks by Kendall Hastings, who came off the bench to see her first action of the night in the set. Overall, Boise State's offense hit .333 in the third while the defense limited Wyoming to its lowest hitting percentage in a set all night (.079).

In the final set, Boise State had 55 attacks to Wyoming's 46, but the Cowgirls' fought off the Broncos' comeback attempt thanks to six blocks and 25 digs.

The fourth set featured six ties and five lead changes, but Wyoming grabbed the lead from the Broncos at 11-10 and held on for the remainder of the match.

Quotable
"I thought Wyoming played really well tonight. They had a really good offensive rhythm, and we struggled to slow them down. But I am proud of how our team responded in the third. I really thought we could build some momentum as the match wore on, but Wyoming seemed to win all the long rallies in the fourth set and were able to put us away."

Shawn Garus, Boise State head coach

Top Broncos

Arianna Bilby had 13 kills, her second straight match with double-digit kills and 16th such effort this season.
Kailyn Jager's nine kills were her most in a match since Oct. 11 at Wyoming.
Layla Smith had a team-high eight blocks. She has 125 blocks this season, which moved her into ninth place on Boise State's single-season blocks list in the rally-scoring era.
Bre Mitchell had a team-high 16 digs. The senior now has 1,155 career digs, which are the sixth-most by a Bronco in the rally-scoring era. She needs 14 more digs to crack the program's all-time top 10 in career digs.
Lilli Etter had 24 assists and eight digs.

Notables

Boise State finished with 11 blocks, which was the fifth time in the last six matches the Broncos reached double-digits in blocks.
The Broncos have 268.5 total blocks this year, which are seventh-most in a single-season in the program's rally-scoring era.
Boise State's 60 digs were its most in a four-set match this season since it had 64 at Wyoming on Oct. 11.

What's Next
Boise State hosts Colorado State on Saturday at noon in Bronco Gym. The Rams are second in the Mountain West standings.