Set 1
The Cougars opened the match going on a 5-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Livingston and a double block by Whitney Bower and Mia Lee. A dish to the Weber State backcourt by Bower forced the Wildcats to take the first timeout of the night, 12-6.
Weber State forced two points coming out of the timeout, putting the score up 12-8. The Cougars responded quickly, earning four of their own, in part to two kills from Livingston. A 3-0 run by BYU had Weber State call another timeout, 16-9.
Both teams traded points coming out of the break, with the Wildcats securing the first service ace on the evening. BYU went on a 3-0 run of their own led by Livingston’s seventh kill of the set. The Cougars took the first set of the match 25-16 with another Livingston kill.
Set 2
Weber State earned the first point of set two on a back-and-forth rally. More rallies ensued, highlighted by a deep cross court shot by Livingston to move the Cougars up 6-2. The Wildcats stayed in the mix, earning the next four of five points. Weber Stat tied the match 8-8, with their second service ace of the match.
Both teams went point-for-point through the middle of the set. McEwan-Llarenas and Livingston recorded a double block, followed immediately by Lee with a solo block through the stretch. With a careful eye, Bower let a Wildcat ball go outside the line to put the Cougars up 15-13 ahead of media timeout.
Weber State took the first point out of the break, but BYU responded quickly earning two-straight points ending in a service ace by Hannah Billeter. The Wildcats then took a timeout trailing 17-14.
BYU re-took control with a quick dish kill from Bower, followed by a double-block by her and McEwan-Llarenas, causing another Wildcat timeout. The Cougars finished out the set taking five of the final seven points. Livingston secured the second set for BYU with her 14th kill on the night, 25-16.
Set 3
BYU took the first two points of the third set, capped off by the team’s second service ace on the night by McEwan-Llarenas. The Wildcats came back speedily, taking over the lead for just the second time on the night. BYU fought back, led by Prior with a rocket shot that went off a Wildcat into the stands. Weber State maintained control of the scoreboard with two, extending for their lead to 11-7, forcing a BYU timeout.
The Wildcats immediately knocked down another ace before the Cougars mounted a rally, fueled by kills from McEwan-Llarenas and Livingston. A stuff by Bower at the net put the Cougars back in the mix, and another kill from Livingston caused Weber State to take a timeout ahead 16-13. Two more kills from Livingston and a deep shot by Stowell brought the Cougars back within one ahead of another Wildcat timeout, 18-17.
McEwan-Llarenas tied the match at 19 apiece by launching a shot to the Wildcat backcourt. Both teams fought point for point. Weber St. The Wildcats went up 22-20 after a successful challenge and both teams earned a point ahead of a BYU timeout.
The Wildcats entered set point at 24-22 before the Cougars earned two more to tie the match and the teams traded points again. A Wildcat ball gone long gave the Cougars match point 26-25, and BYU won the match on the ensuing point, letting another Wildcat ball go outside to seal the win, 27-25.
Up Next
The Cougars will face Arizona State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night at the Smith Fieldhouse. Coverage of the match will begin at 7 p.m. MST on ESPN+.
