PROVO, Utah — No. 21 BYU women's volleyball heads to Boulder for a single match at Colorado this week, the Cougars' first meeting with the Buffaloes in the Centennial State in 30 years.
| No. 21 BYU @ Colorado | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | TV/Stream | Live Stats |
| Friday, Oct. 25 | 7 p.m. MDT | ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
BYU moved up three spots from No. 24 to No. 21 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, marking 176-straight polls that the Cougars have been ranked in the Top 25. All 10 of BYU head coach Heather Olmstead's seasons have been spent inside the Top 25.
Going 2-0 in Big 12 play for the second time this year, BYU picked up a 3-1 road win at Iowa State before earning a five-set victory against in-state rival, No. 20 Utah.
The Cougars were led by outside hitters Claire Little and Elli Mortensen, who tallied 29 and 28 kills on the week, respectively. Middle blockers Kjersti Strong (16 kills) and Brielle Kemavor (15 kills) finished in double figures as well. Kemavor paced BYU at the net with 15 total blocks.
Five different Cougars recorded double-digit digs on the week: Lulu Uluave (37), Alex Bower (22), Hannah Billeter (21), Claire Little (19) and Elli Mortensen (14). Bower totaled 76 assists, averaging 8.44 per set, as BYU hit .263 across the two matches.
Picking up their first Big 12 road win of the year with the four-set victory in Ames, the Cougars hit .301 while holding the Cyclones to a .201 clip, improving to 9-0 when hitting .300 or better and 12-4 when holding opponents to clips of .249 or less. Thursday night presented head coach Heather Olmstead's 249th-career win, and Saturday brought her 250th.
After winning the opening set at home against the Utes, BYU dropped the next two frames to Utah before winning the fourth to force a fifth set, where it was 1-5, with all five losses by two points, previously. The Cougars flipped the script, closing the match on a 4-0 run, part of an 8-2 span, after facing a 10-7 deficit late in the fifth en route to the 3-2 win.
Little registered her third double-double of the season with 16 kills and 12 digs. Mortensen was a dig shy of her first-career double double, and Kemavor was a kill shy of her second this season. They both tied career highs in blocks, with Kemavor's game-high 10 and Mortensen's three.
Just under the halfway point of Big 12 play, BYU ranks No. 28 in hitting percentage (.265) and No. 35 in both total blocks (186.5) and blocks per set (2.59). The Cougars lead the league in total blocks and are second in conference in blocks per set.
Kemavor continues to sit atop the Big 12 in total blocks (100) and blocks per set (1.39), statistics she ranks 16th and 23th nationally in. Little is second in the Big 12 in total kills (283), total points (327.5) and points per set (4.65).
After BYU beat Colorado in four sets a month ago in Provo, the two teams get set to face off for a second time this season on Friday night.
Colorado (10-9, 3-4 Big 12)
- The Buffaloes beat Texas Tech, UCF and Arizona, all in five sets, since visiting the Cougars in Provo.
- Colorado hosts West Virginia on Wednesday night before BYU comes to town.
- BYU leads the all-time series, 7-1. The Buffaloes' lone win came on Sept. 8, 1995, a 3-1 victory in Provo.
The Cougars will return to the Smith Fieldhouse next week, hosting No. 13 Arizona State in a Halloween night matchup and Arizona on Saturday afternoon.