BYU/UVU Roundup: Cougar Women's Volleyball Loses in a Five-Set Thriller

Cougar Women's Volleyball Falls to Utes in Five-Set Thriller

In a highly anticipated rivalry match, the BYU Cougars women's volleyball team fell to the University of Utah Utes in a thrilling five-set match on Friday night at the Smith Fieldhouse. Despite a valiant effort, the Cougars were unable to overcome the Utes' strong defense and consistent serving.

Set-by-Set Breakdown

The first set was a close battle, with both teams trading points back and forth. The Cougars took an early 8-5 lead, but the Utes responded with a 6-2 run to take an 11-10 advantage. BYU rallied back to tie the set at 14-14, but Utah pulled away late to win 25-22.

The second set was dominated by the Cougars, who jumped out to a 9-1 lead and never looked back. BYU hit .333 in the set and forced Utah into several errors. The Cougars won the set 25-13.

The third set was another close one, with the teams trading leads several times. BYU took a 17-14 lead, but Utah responded with a 4-0 run to take an 18-17 advantage. The Cougars rallied back to tie the set at 22-22, but the Utes won the final three points to take the set 25-22.

Cougars Make a Late Push

The fourth set was all BYU. The Cougars hit .379 and held Utah to a .185 hitting percentage. BYU won the set 25-17 to force a fifth and deciding set.

The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. BYU took an early 7-5 lead, but Utah rallied back to tie the set at 8-8. The teams traded points until Utah took a 14-12 lead and forced BYU to call a timeout.

Utes Prevail in Fifth Set

The Cougars were unable to recover from the timeout and Utah won the fifth set 16-14 and the match 3-2. Utah's defense was impressive throughout the match, holding BYU to a .219 hitting percentage. The Utes also had a 9-5 advantage in blocks.

Looking Ahead

With the loss, BYU's record falls to 12-6 on the season. The Cougars will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 28, when they host the San Diego Toreros at the Smith Fieldhouse.