Set One
BYU opened up the night with an ace from Herget. With the score at 7-6 for UCLA, the Cougars tied it up at 7-7 off a wild point that flew off a Bruin and came back over the net. BYU earned a diving save and then Ramanis smacked the ball back with Bruin blockers falling down from a jump.
With UCLA up 16-14, Browne soared high for a slam that bounced around a couple of Bruins before flying into the crowd. At 17-17, Bernardo Adam and Browne carded kills before UCLA would then score two straight to make it 19-19.
Later, with the Bruins holding a 24-23 set point advantage, Ramanis climbed high for a crucial putaway to keep the Cougars alive. The junior then got another kill on the left side down the line. Five more set points kept the suspense rolling before BYU pulled away with the score at 29-29. Benson’s cross-court kill set up the set-sealing ace by Browne.
Set Two
The second set began as close as the first, with neither team leading by more than one until a combined 20 points had taken place. With the score at 6-5 for UCLA, the Cougars saved a serve off a dive to enable an authoritative slam by Benson down the middle.
At 12-10 for the Bruins, UCLA gave up three service errors over the next five plays as BYU narrowed the gap to 14-13.
A 3-0 UCLA run was curbed with a service error as BYU then narrowed the gap to a one-point deficit again at 18-17. The Bruins responded with a weak side kill across the court. At 19-17, a Benson putaway and Browne ace knotted the score again at 19-19.
Benson hit another cross-court kill aimed right to make it 20-20 before a service error made it 21-20 for UCLA. Ramanis then carded a termination over two defenders and the Bruins countered again to go up 22-21. In an unusual set ending, the teams traded several service errors in a sequence of four straight points to extend the score to a 24-23 set point for UCLA. Unlike the opening frame, the set was quickly decided in UCLA’s favor at 25-23 off a BYU attack error.
Set Three
Benson nailed the ball with force into three UCLA defenders aiming for a roof block as it grazed their hands and landed out to put BYU up 4-3 early. Down 5-6, Ramanis surged ahead and placed the ball to the left of two blockers as it rolled across the net to the left for a kill.
Herget reached low to set up a kill by Gavin Julien and tie things up at 8-8. Trailing 8-10 after an ace by the Bruins, Julien carded yet another kill, this time gently above the net and landing towards the center.
With the score at 10-10, the Bruins began a 5-0 run in what would be the largest scoring run of the night for either team. The Cougars almost curbed the run at 13-10 when Browne extended for a wild pancake save. Despite two Bruins bumping into each other and falling to the ground, they were able to rebound and break a wall of three Cougar blockers.
The Bruins maintained their lead. Up 22-17, Julien won a spar at the net to set up a Moser slam that cut the deficit to 22-18, but BYU wouldn’t score again and fell 25-18.
Set Four
Teon Taylor recorded two points early. He first reached ahead to thread the ball between two defenders and even the score at 2-2. Trailing 4-2, Taylor then dumped the ball left for another point.
At 5-5, UCLA went on a 6-2 run for an 11-7 advantage. A gentle tap to set up a gliding Taylor for the slam preceded a slide attack by Browne.
Two Bruin errors made it just 13-11 before Taylor carded his first ace and Cougars’ sixth of the night. A couple more UCLA errors equaled the score at 14-14. Jon Stanley then notched another Cougar ace to make it 16-15 for BYU’s first lead of the set. Just three points later, Little carded an ace to go up 18-16.
UCLA narrowed the gap to make it 20-20. Taylor then smacked the ball into a blocker as it flew off the defender’s fingertips and into the crowd. A pancake save by the Cougars led to an immediate kill from Benson. Browne then carded two straight aces to bring the roaring crowd to its feet and force a fifth set.
Set Five
The Bruins jumped out to a 4-1 lead. A service error made it 4-2 before the Bruins scored two more to force an early timeout.
The Cougars gained momentum, cutting the UCLA lead to 8-6 after a wild point saw the Cougars rebound quickly off blocks to gain the upper hand with a putaway from Taylor. Little then rattled off another ace before Herget assisted Ramanis on a weak side kill to even the score at eight.
With the score at 11-11, the Cougars scooped to save a powerful spike and set up a kill from Benson. Tied at 12-12, Bruin Merrick McHenry had a service error. Benson then nailed a putaway to set up match point at 14-12. Off a strong serve by Browne, the Bruins hoisted the ball up and it was immediately met with an overpass slam by Moser to secure the upset.
Up Next
BYU will host the Bruins again tomorrow on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. MST in the Smith Fieldhouse. The match will be televised on BYUtv and byutv.org.
