Set One
Stanley opened the first set by recording the match's very first ace, taking the score to 1-1. Neither team would lead by more than one until CUI went up 7-5. The Cougars then won five of the next six points to go up 10-8, including an ace from Browne and block from Stanley. The run also included a wild point that saw the ball soar near the ceiling and bounce around before Concordia returned and later met a strong Cougar wall at the net for the stop.
The Golden Eagles knotted the score at 12-12 before BYU scored four straight in a sequence powered by Julien. The senior middle blocker recorded a tip kill off an assist from Tyler Herget. Julien then extended for a diving save to set up a slam from Benson. After a media timeout, The run was capped by a double roof block by Taylor and Benson.
The Golden Eagles cut the lead to two at 19-17, but it was as close as the would get. Benson won a one-on-one spar at the net as BYU capitalized on a pair of errors to make it 23-19, followed by a set point kill from Benson off Herget’s assist.
Set Two
Set two began close as the Golden Eagles again went up 7-5. Taylor and Browne tallied a pair of kills along with a Concordia error to make it 8-8. During the sequence, Herget extended for a pancake save, but the Golden Eagles won the point. Concordia then went up 13-10 before Benson carded a kill.
Down 14-12, Benson helped cut the narrow deficit by quickly recognizing Golden Eagles out of position, placing a dump kill to win the point. He then followed it up with an ace, joining Browne for the Cougars’ second on the night with the score at 14-14.
Later, Browne’s second ace of the night was followed by an attack error from Concordia as BYU went up 19-17. The Golden Eagles won five of the next seven points to go up 22-21 before the Cougars went ahead 24-23. Concordia won two straight to set up their own set point before serving long. After BYU got two more chances to win on set point, Stanley carded his sixth kill of the night to cement a 29-27 win.
Set Three
Slams from Stanley, Julien and Benson keyed a strong BYU start as the Cougars went up 5-2. The momentum continued as Herget and Browne both dived for critical saves, keeping the point alive to set up a kill by Benson to extend the lead to 9-5.
Three straight errors from the Golden Eagles made it 13-8. Two kills from Benson and one from Browne gave the Cougars their biggest lead of the night at 18-10. Concordia responded with nine of the next 13 points to cut the advantage to just three at 22-19.
Jackson Fife countered with a diving serve return, enabling Benson to soar for a kill, who later closed off the match with a set point kill.
Up Next
BYU will host the Golden Eagles again tomorrow at 7 p.m. MDT at the Smith Fieldhouse. The match will be televised on BYUtv and byutv.org. Following the match, BYU will honor its three seniors: Kupono Browne, Gavin Julien and Jon Stanley.
