PROVO, Utah – No. 5 BYU men’s volleyball beat an alumni team of former Cougars three sets to one Saturday at the Smith Fieldhouse in a preview of what is to come this season.
“It was exciting to be back in the Smith Fieldhouse with our team and welcome back the alumni,” BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead said. “It was great to see a handful of players from the past who have contributed so much to the success of this program. I appreciate the fans that showed up and look forward to seeing more of them next week against Ohio State.”
Fans got their first glimpse of several newcomers in the scrimmage, including the highly touted freshman outside hitter from Italy, Davide Gardini. Several other freshmen, including Kana’i Akana, Branden Oberender and Alex Ah Sue also got their first taste of playing in the Smith Fieldhouse.
Gardini started the match, alongside established players such as sophomores Gabi Garcia Fernandez and Felipe Ferreira de Brito and junior Cyrus Fa’alogo, with sophomore Zach Hendrickson at libero. There is only one senior on this year’s team, Taylor Richards, and 11 of the 18 players are underclassmen.
Garcia Fernandez racked up several preseason selections following his National Newcomer of the Year season last year, including Off the Block/Springbak Preseason First-Team All-American and the Bryan Ivie Award watch list for outside hitters. Ferreira de Brito and junior Mikki Jauhiainen were both named to the Ryan Millar Award watch list
BYU jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, but the alumni came back to tie it at seven. BYU went on 3-0 run to lead 10-7, but the alumni once again came back to tie it at 10. BYU pulled away in the second half of the set and took it 25-18.
BYU once again got out to a 6-2 lead in the second set. The alumni kept it close at 10-8, but a run from the Cougars extended the lead to 17-9. The lead eventually reached double digits at 22-12, and the Cougars took the set 25-12.
The Cougars gave some of the newcomers a chance to play in the third set as the starters got a rest, and the alumni took advantage, going up 7-6 early, thanks in large part to 2018 All-American honorable mention Leo Durkin. The alumni went on to pull away with a 13-10 lead, but the Cougars came back to tie it at 14. The alumni once again went on a run to lead it 18-14 and the former Cougars went on to take the third set, 25-20.
BYU opened up to a 10-4 lead in the fourth set on strong play from Garcia Fernandez and Gardini. The Cougars were able to maintain the lead with most of their starters back in, and took the match in the fourth set, 25-16.
The team opens the season at home Thursday, Jan. 10 against No. 8 Ohio State at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on TheW.tv.