Set One
The Cougars dropped two quick points to begin the set, falling to 2-0. In response, BYU went on a 4-0 run and took a two-point lead courtesy of three kills and a Thiim ace. The Cougars would hold a lead hovering around two points until they took a three-point edge at 11-8 off a STAC service error.
The Cougars then went on a 3-0 stretch and gave themselves a six-point advantage behind a couple of kills from Thiim and Benson. STAC ended this run at 14-9, but the Cougars would ride the momentum and win the next six points, stretching their lead to 11.
With control of the set 20-10, BYU won the next four points forcing a set point at 24-10. STAC successfully defended the first point, but then the Cougars closed it at 25-11 off a service error from the Spartans. This was the largest margin of victory for BYU in a set this season.
Set Two
The next set began in back-and-forth play from the teams, with neither able to get going early. At 5-5 BYU was able to make its move as they went on a 4-0 run behind two Benson aces and a kill from Hales forcing a St. Aquinas timeout at 9-5.
Out of the timeout, the Cougars continued their run up to 6-0. The Spartans battled back closing the lead to just four at 12-8 behind a block from their front line. The Cougars’ Teilon-Jonathan Tufaga spurred the next run as he got a kill that led to BYU winning the next four of the next five, including a backline kill from Thiim, with BYU now taking a 16-9 lead.
From that moment, the teams traded points until BYU led 20-13. The Cougars would make their final run of the set behind another ace from Benson and two more Thiim kills. BYU won four straight, forcing a set point at 24-13. St. Aquinas was able to defend set point one but lost off a Thiim kill 25-14.
Set Three
The Spartans came into set three with energy as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Benson ended their run with a kill, but the Spartans battled to keep their lead and was able to extend it as they led 9-4.
With a new group in rotation, including Ethan Gant, Lucas Torres and Herget, the Cougars found their first run of the set as Herget got a kill. BYU bursted back with five straight to tie the game at 9-9. Neither team gave or made much ground for the next 14 points as they found themselves back to a tie at 16-16.
The Cougars got a kill from Thiim followed quickly by an ace from Torres that started another run they'd been searching for. BYU went on a 4-0 run putting them up by three at 19-16. The teams battled back and forth until BYU was able to force a set point behind a kill from Torres at 24-21.
The Cougars ended the set on the next point off an error from the Spartans, finishing the set 25-21. This is BYU’s first sweep of the season, remaining undefeated at 3-0.
Up Next
BYU next hosts the Spartans again on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. The game will be live on the Big 10 Network+, with a rebroadcast on BYUtv following the match at 10 p.m. MT.
