Wyoming Volleyball Looks to Youth as Team Prepares to Replace Veteran Setter Kasia Partyka

For the first time in four seasons, the University of Wyoming volleyball team will begin its campaign without the steady hands of Kasia Partyka directing the offense, Casper Star-Tribune reports.

The two-time All-Mountain West setter graduated this offseason and has already embarked on a professional career in her native Poland, leaving behind both a statistical legacy and an intangible leadership presence.

During her tenure, Partyka served as a key figure in the Cowgirls’ offensive system, averaging nearly 12 kills per set and ranking fourth in the Mountain West Conference last season with 644 assists. Beyond her numbers, she was known for her intelligence, competitiveness, and ability to facilitate scoring opportunities, earning praise as one of the team’s top leaders.

Now, head coach Kaylee Prigge is tasked with determining the best approach to fill the void Partyka leaves behind. Redshirt freshman Maddy Stucky enters the 2025 season with a year of experience in the program and is considered the frontrunner to assume the setter role. Joining her is true freshman Sara Quigley, a 5-foot-10 recruit from McKinney, Texas, who will arrive on campus ahead of preseason training in August.

Prigge has not committed to a particular offensive system just yet. The Cowgirls could continue with the traditional 5-1 alignment, allowing one setter to run the offense full-time, or adopt a 6-2 system that rotates both Stucky and Quigley.

“I don’t know who’s going to be running the show,” Prigge said. “That will rear its head and we’ll figure out what puts us in a better position to win when we start preseason.”

The setter position, often likened to the quarterback in football, is central to a volleyball team’s rhythm and strategy. The role requires both technical skill and tactical awareness—deciding where to distribute the ball, reacting to the opponent’s defensive setups, and adjusting to the pace and strengths of teammates. Effective setters must also establish timing with middle hitters, a relationship that often requires strong mutual trust and chemistry.

Stucky’s spring performance has given the coaching staff reason for optimism. The former Laramie High School standout spent the offseason refining her game within Wyoming’s system and building rapport with the team’s hitters. While Quigley has yet to take the court in Laramie, she is expected to be given every opportunity to contribute once preseason begins.

“With Sara not having been in our gym in the spring, I think it’s unfair to totally say at this point what that’s going to look like,” Prigge said. “But Maddy had a good spring. I’m excited about the strides she made and I think we’re going to be in good hands regardless.”

Prigge also points to recent conference trends as a reason for optimism. In 2024, the top two assist leaders in the Mountain West—Colorado State’s Emery Herman and Utah State’s Kaylie Kofe—were both in their first years at their programs. The Cowgirls’ offensive system, Prigge said, is designed to help new setters adapt quickly.

“It usually takes about a week from a system standpoint to get on the same page,” Prigge explained. “After that, it’s always some troubleshooting and getting into a rhythm. Maddy’s already been here a full year, so she and our hitters have a good rapport.”

Regardless of who earns the starting spot—or if both share the responsibility—Wyoming’s offensive tempo and efficiency will rest in the hands of a freshman setter. While Partyka’s absence is notable, the Cowgirls are preparing to develop the next generation of leadership at one of the game’s most crucial positions.

“Moving forward we’re going to be young at that position,” Prigge said, “and it’s exciting to think about Kasia’s growth over her time here and to get to see that trajectory in two new players.”