By Staff
LARAMIE, Wyo.– The Wyoming volleyball program has signed four student-athletes for the class of 2016, head coach Chad Callihan announced on Wednesday. Madi Fields, Halie McArdle, Jackie McBride and Tara Traphagan will don the Brown and Gold for Cowgirl volleyball starting in 2016.
“We are very excited to welcome this class to the Wyoming family,” Callihan said. “When we set out to fill the 2016 class we wanted to identify players that could compete athletically in the Mountain West but who also possessed a volleyball IQ allowing them to do more than just be a physical presence. With the additions of Halie, Jackie, Madi and Tara we feel that we achieved that goal and it is needed, as we graduate three wonderful players.”
Fields is a 5-6 defensive specialist/libero out of Mission Vista High School in Oceanside, Calif. A four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain, she is also a three-time All-Valley League selection. Fields was the 2014 team MVP in addition to being named to the San Diego Tribune Players to Watch list twice. Fields was coached by Brianna Raphael. She was also a two-year member of the Associated Student Body and participated in Key Club. She is the daughter of Stephen and Tami Fields and has one brother, Justin.
McArdle is a 5-9 outside hitter out of Gretna High School in Gretna, Neb. She recently earned AVCA Under Armour third-team All-American honors, and was named one of the MaxPreps/AVCA players of the week for Oct. 26. A team captain during her senior season McArdle was the Gretna player of the year after her sophomore and junior seasons as well as first team all-state and team MVP as a junior. She is also the career-leader in kills for the Dragons and finished her senior year fifth in kills in the state of Nebraska. Furthermore, McArdle was a recipient of the Fall 2013 Nebraska Chiropractic Physicians Association (NCPA) Academic All-State Award from the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA). McArdle was coached by Mike Brandon. She was also a four-year member of the Honor Roll and National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Jim and Tracie McArdle.
McBride is a 6-1 middle blocker out of Rangeview High School in Aurora, Colo. She is a two-time team captain and three-time first team All-East Metro Athletic Conference selection. McBride led her team to an EMAC Championship during her freshman and senior seasons as well as the regional final three times. She also was named All-EMAC in soccer three times, and was a Colorado High School Athletic Association Scholar in both soccer and volleyball. McBride was a member of the National Honor Society, the student body president her senior year, an athletic activities appreciation committee chair member, the senior yearbook editor and Thespian Society member. She was coached by Doug Walker and is the daughter of John Cacianti and Kimberlee McBride. She has two older brothers, Casey and Matthew.
Traphagan is a 6-1 outside hitter from Yuma High School in Yuma, Colo. She was a three-time team captain and twice named all-state. She helped her team win three Regional Championships, in addition to one state runner-up finish during her high school career. Traphagan was also an all-conference selection three times in track and field and once in basketball. A member of the Honor Roll and National Honor Society since 2013, Traphagan was the Student Council Secretary, a member of the International Thespian Society and participated in the Touching Hearts Through Athletics organization. She was coached by Jen Noble and is the daughter of Pat and Cindy Traphagan. Her uncle, Mike played basketball for Wyoming, while brother, Austin was a member of the football team. She also has an older sister, Jessica.
“This class will provide an excellent blend of athleticism and IQ to our program and I look forward to seeing their continued development,” Callihan added. “Beyond the court all four excel in the classroom and they will continue the culture of being great ambassadors for Wyoming.”