ORLANDO — No. 12 BYU women’s volleyball swept UCF (25-19, 25-20, 25-17) for the second-straight match at The Venue on Friday night.
The Cougars (22-5, 11-4 Big 12) recorded 43 kills on a .400 hitting percentage, tied for the second-highest this season, with just five attack errors. Outside hitter Erin Livingston led the way with 17 kills, hitting .500. It was her 23rd match with double-digit kills this season and eighth in a row.
Opposite hitter Kate Prior and outside hitter Eden Bower each tallied eight kills, while middle blockers Mia Lee and Whitney McEwan-Llarenas posted four apiece. Setter Whitney Bower had 35 assists, while libero Kamaile Hiapo finished with 12 digs. McEwan-Llarenas carded a team-high five total blocks.
Set 1
Both teams traded points to open the match, with BYU opening up a 15-12 lead at the media timeout. The Cougars received kills from five different Cougars in the early going, including three apiece from both Livingston and Eden Bower.
UCF drew within one coming out of the media timeout, but BYU held onto its lead with a 3-0 run of its own that featured Kalia Thunstrom’s first ace of the season. Two kills each by Livingston and Prior helped the Cougars close out their 25-19 set win on a 3-0 run.
Set 2
Weathering two 3-0 runs from the Knights, BYU called timeout down 8-5. The Cougars tied the set at 10-all with a 3-0 run highlighted by a Hiapo free-ball kill, before taking a 16-13 lead with a five-consecutive points that spanned a UCF timeout.
Back-to-back Livingston kills forced the Knights’ second timeout with the Cougars in front, 18-15. Trading points from there, a Prior kill, McEwan-Llarenas solo block and Hannah Billeter ace got BYU set point, which Eden Bower finished off a point later, 25-20.
Set 3
Knotted up early on, a 4-0 Cougar run fueled by two McEwan-Llarenas kills made it 9-6, BYU, forcing a UCF timeout. Leading 15-10 after a Livingston kill and Whitney Bower-Lee double block, the Knights took their second timeout.
Three-straight Livingston kills had the Cougars on a 6-0 run as BYU extended its advantage to 18-10. Getting a double block from Eden Bower and McEwan-Llarenas to go along with an overpass kill by Prior, two UCF errors brought up match point, and Eden Bower closed it out with a kill, 25-17.
Up Next
The Cougars will return home for a senior night matchup against No. 14 Kansas on Friday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. MST. The match will be streamed on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.