Set 1
After scoring the first two points of the match, BYU surrendered five-straight to UCF before a Mortensen kill ended the run. The Cougars got kills from Bower, Little and Kate Prior, but a 3-0 Knight run had them trailing 12-8, where they took their first timeout.
Bower’s second overpass kill and Billeter’s second ace of the set capped off a 3-0 BYU run that made it 13-12, UCF. A second 3-0 run including back-to-back overpass kills by Strong and Little then gave the Cougars a 15-14 lead, forcing a Knight timeout.
Trading points, a Bower dump, Mortensen kill and Mortensen-Kemavor double block put BYU ahead 20-18, and UCF took its second timeout. Prior scored on a roll shot down the line before an Uluave ace, making way for kills by Strong and Mortensen finished off set one, 25-20.
Set 2
An early 4-0 run had the Cougars up 6-3 before the Knights evened things up at seven. Billeter’s third ace of the night highlighted another 4-0 BYU run, making it 11-7 as UCF called its first timeout.
The Knights then scored four straight themselves before a Mortensen kill halted their run, but would go on a second 4-0 run of their own a few points later, forcing a Cougar timeout at 17-15.
Trading points, BYU took its second timeout trailing 20-17. UCF would close the set on a 5-1 run, part of an 8-2 span where it served three aces, to even the match at one set apiece, 25-18.
Set 3
Little paced the Cougars to a 4-4 tie with a pair of kills. Billeter’s fourth ace paved way for a 4-0 BYU run, part of a 6-1 span, that gave the Cougars a 15-9 lead at the media timeout.
BYU responded to a 3-0 UCF run with a Kemavor kill and Prior-Kemavor double block, forcing a Knight timeout in front 17-12. The Cougars made it five straight with two more Kemavor blocks, leading 20-12 as UCF called its second timeout.
After a 3-0 run by the Knights, BYU took its first timeout. The Cougars reeled off three-straight with kills by Kemavor and Strong, closing it out two plays later on a cross-court Mortensen kill, 25-18.
Set 4
BYU raced out to a 6-2 advantage in the final frame, forcing a UCF timeout after two 3-0 runs that were highlighted by aces from Macy Short and Bower, and a Kemavor-Prior double block.
Two more Uluave aces, her second and third of the night, and a quick hitter for Strong helped the Cougars double up the Knights at 12-6. Kills by Mortensen and Little pace BYU to a 16-8 advantage.
With the Cougars in front 19-11, UCF called timeout. The Knights then scored three straight, and BYU took a timeout. Three more by UCF had the Knights on a 6-0 run, drawing within two at 19-17.
Prior and Kemavor combined for a double roof to stop the run before both Mortensen and Strong followed that up with kills. An ace by Kalia Thunstrom got the Cougars match point, which Little would put away a point later, 25-21.
Up Next
BYU will head to Houston for a matchup between both Cougars in the conference on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. CST. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
