PROVO, Utah — No. 9 BYU women’s volleyball gets set to host Iowa State for a pair of matches at the Smith Fieldhouse in the two team’s first ever matchups this week.
The Cougars continue conference play and their four-game home stand against the Cyclones on Thursday and Friday night before heading out on their third Big 12 road trip of the season.
| No. 9 BYU vs. Iowa State | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | Television/Stream | Live Stats |
| Thursday, Oct. 19 | 7 p.m. MDT | Big 12 Now on ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
| Friday, Oct. 20 | 7 p.m. MDT | Big 12 Now on ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
BYU remained at No. 9 in the AVCA poll this week, marking 160-straight polls that the Cougars have been ranked in the Top 25 and 151-consecutive weeks inside the top 18.
The Cougars earned a series sweep of Texas Tech last weekend, beating the Red Raiders in five sets before sweeping them on Saturday night. A number of BYU players set career highs in the five-setter, including middle blocker Whitney McEwan-Llarenas, who posted 17 kills, and libero Hannah Billeter, who recorded 18 digs.
Freshman middle blocker Mia Lee was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week after tallying a career-high 11 blocks on night one, tied for the second-most by a Cougar freshman in the rally scoring era.
Lee finished with 16 total blocks on the week, averaging two per set, to go along with 11 kills on a .250 clip. The award marks Lee’s second of the season, and the BYU’s fifth weekly honor of the year.
Through seven games of conference play, setter Whitney Bower has 39 kills on a team-high .444 clip. McEwan-Llarenas’s 32 kills have come on a .338 hitting percentage.
As a team, the Cougars ranks No. 8 nationally in blocks per set (2.86), No. 12 in opponent hitting percentage (.149) and No. 21 in total blocks (191.5). BYU leads the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage, and are second in total blocks.
Leading the team in blocks, Lee ranks 22nd in blocks per set, at 1.36, and 40th in total blocks, with 87. With 3.79 kills per set, outside hitter Erin Livingston ranks No. 54. She is No. 8 nationwide in points per set, averaging 4.26.
Looking to extend their three-game win streak, the Cougars prepare for their first matchup with Iowa State on the Taraflex this week.
Iowa State (13-4, 4-2 Big 12)
- The Cyclones fell in three at Kansas State last weekend.
- ISU swept its series with West Virginia, split a series at Baylor and swept Texas Tech to open Big 12 play.
- Christy Johnson-Lynch is in her 19th season with the Cyclones, posting a 363-195 (.651) record since 2005.
- This is the first matchup in volleyball between the two teams. BYU and Iowa State have met 19 times previously in five other sports.
Concluding a four-match home stand, the Cougars will hit the road again next week for two matches at Kansas State on Thursday and Friday, October. 26-27.