Set One
The Anteaters jumped to an early 5-2 lead, finding gaps in the Cougar backcourt multiple times. BYU rallied back, tying the set 6-6 with a 3-0 run highlighted by an ace from Ramanis. The Anteaters seized control of the lead, going on a 5-0 run to enter the media timeout 15-11. At the timeout, the Cougars were hitting a negative percentage, with six attack errors and hit into four UC Irvine blocks.
The Cougars gained some momentum coming out of the break and eventually picked up three straight points with Ramanis on the service line, including two more service aces. Both sides went point-for-point for the lead with UC Irvine calling a timeout with the Cougars ahead 21-20. Despite 10 ties in the set previously, it was the Cougars’ first lead since 1-0, and they wouldn’t surrender the lead for the remainder of the set.
The Cougars closed with a kill by Benson off the Anteater block. The play was initially given to the Anteaters, but after a challenge issued by BYU, the call got reversed, giving BYU the lead 1-0 with a 25-23 set victory.
Set Two
The second set of the night saw both sides record service errors on the first two serves. The two teams battled for the lead, seeing the score tied 15 times through the set. Kills from Gavin Julien and Benson kept the Cougars in the hunt. UC Irvine went up 13-11 for the first two-point lead of the set.
Ramanis tied the match at 13 a piece with his fourth service ace of the night, tying his career high. The Cougars capitalized on the momentum with back-to-back kills by Benson. The Anteaters pushed back with their own pair of kills to move to another two-point lead, forcing a BYU timeout when down two at 19-17.
The Cougars would claw back to tie the match again at 20-20, 21-21 and 24-24, but the Anteaters finished off the set with back-to-back kills to end the set 26-24.
Set Three
The Anteaters scored a quick two points to open the third set. The Cougars stayed in the mix, with Benson and Ramanis each recording kills. A fifth service ace by Ramanis tied the match 6-6. Not to be stopped, the Anteaters forced a 3-0 run, the final point after a long rally, to prompt a Cougar timeout at 11-7.
A pair of blocks from Benson and Kupono Brown helped keep UC Irvine within sight for the Cougars. The Anteaters swung back, scoring the next four of five points coming out of the media timeout. The first service ace for UC Irvine put the Anteaters up 20-16.Ending the set on a 3-0 run, the Anteaters clinched the second set 25-18 on a second service ace.
Set Four
The Anteaters opened up the set in similar fashion with another lead, going up 2-0. The Cougars responded with a kill by Ian Little, the first of the sophomore’s career, that tied the match 4-4. Little managed his first career ace on the next serve to give the Cougars the lead. He would go on to have seven kills and two digs in the match.
BYU surged forward with kills from Julien, Little and Ramanis. Benson’s 19th kill propelled the Cougars for their largest lead of the night, 14-10. Multiple attack errors plagued the Cougars, bringing the Anteaters up to tie the match 16-16 and forcing a BYU timeout.
BYU charged back into the lead with kills from Benson and Little. The Cougars continued to push the scoreboard up with Little registering his sixth and seventh kill of the evening. The Anteaters staved off a Cougar set point three times, broken up by a failed challenge by Coach Olmstead and a BYU timeout.
BYU entered set point on a kill by Ramanis down the line. The Cougars secured the fourth set 25-23 forcing the Anteaters to hit into the net.
Set Five
Both sides traded points to enter the fifth set, with BYU taking a 3-1 lead in part of a pair of short kills by Ramanis. The Anteaters got back in the mix with their fourth service ace on the night. The Anteaters surged forward to a 8-6 lead, in part to attack errors by the Cougars.
Kills by Benson and Julien kept the Cougars within striking distance. A kill by Julien, off the hand of an Anteater, set the score at 10-10. Ramanis gave the Cougars the lead 12-11 with his sixth service ace through the match.
UC Irvine entered match point by forcing a service error on the Cougars. The Anteaters secured the victory with a solo block winning the set 15-13, and securing a five-set victory.
Up Next
The Cougars stay at the Smith Fieldhouse for a pair of match-ups against Long Island University after a bye-week. The first match will be played on Thursday Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. MST and coverage of the matches will be available on BYUtv.
