PROVO, Utah — No. 24 BYU women's volleyball finishes off its home slate, hosting Cincinnati and West Virginia at the Smith Fieldhouse this week.
The Cougars (16-8, 9-5 Big 12) take a two-match win streak into their last two home games in Provo and look for strong performances in the penultimate week of the regular season.
| Week 13 Game Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Date | Time | Stream | Live Stats |
| Cincinnati | Thursday, Nov. 21 | 7 p.m. MST | ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
| West Virginia | Saturday, Nov. 23 | 1 p.m. MST | ESPN+ | Stat Broadcast |
BYU remained at No. 24 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, marking 180-straight polls that the Cougars have been ranked in the Top 25. All 10 of head coach Heather Olmstead's seasons have been spent inside the Top 25.
Sweeping a pair of road Big 12 matches last week, BYU picked up wins at UCF and Houston, receiving double-digit kills from Claire Little, Elli Mortensen and Kjersti Strong in both matches.
The Cougars hit just .191 in the four-set win against the Knights, but tied a season high with 11 service aces. BYU hit an impressive .340 in its sweep at Houston, also out-blocking UH, nine to two.
Brielle Kemavor was named the Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Week after finishing tied for the league lead with 13 total blocks. She finished with a game-high nine blocks in Orlando before tallying four blocks at Houston.
The award marked the middle blocker's second of the season and the Cougars' third conference award this year after Alex Bower was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week in early October.
Following its two road wins in conference, BYU ranks No. 31 in hitting percentage (.261) and No. 48 in blocks per set (2.51). The Cougars lead the league in total blocks (235.5), are second in blocks per set and third in both hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage (.187).
Kemavor now sits at No. 19 in blocks per set (1.39) and No. 31 in total blocks (131), metrics she also paces the Big 12 in. Little ranks third in total kills (361), kills per set (3.97), points (409.5) and points per set (4.5).
Set to play its 15th and 16th matches at home this season, BYU has an 11-3 (.786) record at the Smith Fieldhouse in 2024. Olmstead is also 137-12 (.919) when playing in Provo in her career.
Cincinnati (13-12, 4-10 Big 12)
- The Bearcats have four wins in conference play, but have lost three-consecutive matches.
- Head coach Molly Alvey is in her 13th year at Cincinnati. She is 200-183 (.522) at UC, and 262-214 (.500) in her career.
- BYU leads the all-time series, 3-0, with all three games being played in Provo in the last two seasons.
West Virginia (8-17, 2-12 Big 12)
- On a six-game losing streak, the Mountaineers visit Utah before coming to Provo on Saturday afternoon.
- Head coach Jen Greeny is 8-17 (.320) during year one in Morgantown. She is 355-216 (.622) in her career.
- BYU leads the all-time series, 3-0, and swept last year's meeting at West Virginia.
The Cougars will spend the final week of the season in the state of Kansas, playing at Kansas on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and at Kansas State on Friday, Nov. 29. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.