SAN DIEGO — Despite 22 kills by Claire Little, No. 17 BYU women’s volleyball dropped a five-set contest at San Diego (26-24, 22-25, 25-22, 24-26, 14-16) in the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Thursday night.
In their second five-set match in as many games, the Cougars (4-2, 0-0 Big 12) held the Toreros to a .140 clip, but hit a season-low .188 themselves. BYU was out-blocked by San Diego, 15 to 11, and the Toreros tallied eight aces to the Cougars’ three.
Little (tied career high with 22 kills, 14 digs) and setter Alex Bower (career-high 59 assists, 15 digs) each posted double-doubles, while middle blocker Brielle Kemavor (eight total blocks, three solo blocks) and outside hitter Blaykli Bobik (10 kills, five total blocks) both set new career highs for the second-straight match.
Outside hitter Elli Mortensen recorded nine kills, while outside hitter Eden Bower, middle blocker Mia Lee and Kemavor each added seven. Liberos Lulu Uluave and Hannah Billeter had a career-high 18 and 11 digs, respectively.
Set 1
Tied at 3-3 in the early going, San Diego went on a 3-0 run, pacing itself to an early lead. Fueled by a Little kill and Kemavor solo block, BYU scored four straight, taking its first lead at 11-9. The Toreros then reeled off six in a row, spanning a Cougar timeout, to lead 17-14.
Trading points through 20-17, USD, kills by Kate Prior and Eden Bower forced a San Diego timeout as BYU rallied to get within one. A 3-0 run helped the Cougars tie the opening set at 20-20 before the two teams traded points through 23-22, USD, where BYU took its second timeout.
The Cougars took four of the final five points of the set, including a Kjersti Strong slide kill that evaded a San Diego set point, and a Little kill through the block to take the first frame, 26-22.
Set 2
BYU got a kill and solo block from Eden Bower to get things started, but took both of its timeouts as it weathered a 10-3 San Diego run and trailed 14-6. Bobik, Kemavor, Eden Bower and Lee all landed kills as the Cougars looked to rally.
BYU then went on a 6-0 run that spanned both of USD’s timeouts and featured a pair of Mia Lee slide kills and an Mortensen ace to draw within two, at 19-17, Toreros.
A libero kill from Uluave and two quick hitters for Kemavor had the Cougars down three before BYU fought off two San Diego set points, ultimately dropping the set, 25-22.
Set 3
Facing a 3-1 deficit to start the third, the Cougars rallied with a 4-0 run to take a 7-5 lead. A 3-0 run of kills by Little capped off a 7-1 span that put BYU in front 10-6, forcing a Torero timeout. Kemavor and Bobik teamed up for a pair of double blocks as the set progressed.
USD took its second timeout with BYU leading 16-9 after a Bobik overpass kill. The Toreros then scored five-straight, spanning a BYU timeout, before Lee snapped the run with a quick hitter and a kill off the block.
After USD cut the lead to one on two separate occasions, the Cougars called timeout ahead 21-20. Kills by Little and Kemavor fueled a 3-0 run that got BYU set point, and Bobik would finish things off down the line two plays later, 25-22.
Set 4
Trailing 6-3 after a 4-0 San Diego run, BYU took its first timeout. The Cougars tied things up after an Eden Bower kill and Alex Bower-Lee double block, but saw themselves down 10-6 after consecutive attack errors.
Three Little kills, a Kemavor solo stuff and Bobik kill capped off a 4-0 run and 6-1 span that put BYU in front 13-12 and forced a Torero timeout. Kemavor and Bobik kept the Cougars ahead before a 3-0 USD run had BYU trailing 17-16.
The two teams traded points through 21-all, and the Cougars called timeout down by one, at 22-21. A Mortensen kill off the block and Torero error tied the set at 23, and USD took its last timeout. San Diego took three of the final four points, however, forcing a fifth set, 26-24.
Set 5
A pair of kills from both Little and Mortensen, and another by Bobik had BYU in front, 7-4, forcing a USD timeout. Mortensen scored through the block, and the Cougars led 8-6 as the teams switched sides.
Little’s 22nd kill of the night made it 9-7, but a 3-0 Torero run had the decisive set tied at 10-apiece. Two-straight from USD had the Cougars down 12-10, and they took their second timeout.
A Mortensen kill through the block made it 13-12, San Diego, and the Toreros took their final timeout. BYU staved off a USD match point with a double block and Alyssa Erickson service ace that tied it up at 14-all, but surrendered the final two points, 16-14.
Up Next
The Cougars will remain in San Diego for a top-20 matchup against No. 12 Oregon on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. PDT. The neutral site match will not be streamed, but live stats will be available through Stat Broadcast.