No. 17 BYU takes down Big 12 foe Colorado in four sets

PROVO, Utah — BYU women’s volleyball defeated the Colorado Buffaloes in four sets (25-17, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22) in the commencement of the Cougars' Big 12 play.

BOX SCORE

The Cougars’ first conference win also marks the team’s fourth-consecutive victory of the season, tied for BYU’s longest win streak this year.

BYU (8-3, 1-0 Big 12) hit .306 on the night while holding Colorado to a .231 clip, propelled by Elli Mortensen’s 11 kills and Claire Little’s 10 kills. Freshman Alex Bower recorded 40 assists and 12 digs on the night, marking her fifth double-double of the season and her young career.

Brielle Kemavor was a block off of a second double-double in as many games, posting 10 kills and nine blocks. Hannah Billeter had nine digs to go along with a career-high six digs, while Little and Uluave posted eight digs apiece. Kjersti Strong had nine kills and five blocks on the night. As a team, the Cougars outblocked Colorado, 15 to 6.

Set 1
Starting off the first set, BYU and Colorado traded points until the Cougars went on a 4-0 run to take the lead to 9-7 off a kill by Strong. Colorado replied with a 2-0 run to tie it up, before BYU retook a 12-9 lead with the help of two kills from Mortensen and a Buffalo service error. 

The teams traded points until BYU went on a 3-0 run to widen its lead to 16-12, highlighted by two Little kills. After a Cougar service error, BYU went on a 5-0 run from the help of an ace from Bower, a Blaykli Bobik-Kemavor double block, Little solo stuff and kill by Kemavor, taking the score to 21-13. 

The Cougars maintained control of the scoreboard until the set came to a halt after two-straight Buffalo attack errors with BYU claiming the first set 25-17.

Set 2
Colorado kept the score close to start the second set as each team traded kills to get to 6-6. The Buffaloes went on a 4-0 run to take the lead, but the Cougars answered with three-straight points off kills from Little and a Buffalo service error to tie the set 10-10.

The teams exchanged blows until the Buffaloes claimed three-straight points, making their lead 15-11. Colorado moved the score up 19-13 before BYU narrowed the gap with three straight kills from Kate Prior, Kemavor and Mortensen.

A 4-1 run by Colorado propelled the Buffaloes lead to 24-19. BYU staved off set point twice before Colorado claimed the second set at 25-21.

Set 3
BYU took a 2-1 lead to start the third set, but the Buffaloes stayed in the mix with a 3-0 run, knotting the score at 4-4. Colorado continued to push ahead, capturing a 7-4 lead. The Cougars regained their lead at 11-10 after three-straight points from two Buffalo errors and another Kemavor kill.

Following multiple 2-0 runs from both teams, Colorado found another lead. The Cougars quickly replied, bringing the scoreboard to 19-18 after three-straight kills from Mortensen, Strong and Bower. BYU extended its lead to 23-20 featured by a Brielle Miller ace and two kills by Strong and Little. Despite a 3-1 Colorado run, BYU found its set point, winning set three 25-23.

Set 4
Colorado claimed the first two points of the fourth set, but the Cougars immediately answered with four-straight points on kills from Strong, Kemavor and Little, taking their lead to 4-2. The teams continued to trade points until the Buffaloes found a 3-0 run, knotting the set 9-9. 

BYU took the lead, fueled by a pair of kills from both Strong and Little. Bower and Little continued the pressure, combining to advance the score 15-12 for the Cougars. After each team exchanged points, the Cougars kept their lead at 22-19. Following a 2-0 run from both teams, BYU secured the set 25-22, taking the match in four sets. 

Up Next
The Cougars return to the Smith Fieldhouse on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. MDT to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.