PROVO, Utah — Through a five-set battle, the No. 5 Cougars (6-3) fell 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 16-25, 20-22) to the undefeated No. 4 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (7-0) on Friday night in the Smith Fieldhouse.
"Credit to Hawaii tonight," said BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead. "When you're going against great teams, every single point matters so you can't let up. We had some bright spots, but we have to clean some things up and we have to pass tougher. We also can't lose sight of why we are playing these games right now. We do it to be tested so we can be playing our best volleyball in April and May."
After dropping sets two and four, the Cougars were able to begin set five with a 5-1 lead until Hawaii bounced back to profit off of seven Cougar errors for a 22-20 win.
BYU still reached a season high in blocks, with 16 total. Middle blocker Niko Hales also recorded a career high, with eight total blocks while hitting a perfect game of six kills on six swings. Outside hitter Keoni Thiim recorded a match-high of 21 kills.
Hawaii overpowered the Cougars from the service line, recording 11 aces to BYU's two. The Rainbow Warriors also had 61 kills compared to BYU's 59.
Set One
The Cougars kicked off set one with three-straight blocks from Hales for a 5-1 lead. Despite a few BYU service errors, the team maintained a steady 11-5 lead with kills from Teon Taylor, Teilon-Jonathan Tufuga and Thiim. After two-straight kills from Taylor and Luke Benson, the Rainbow Warriors were forced to call their first timeout. Hawaii then went on a 4-0 run, forcing the Cougars to take a timeout of their own.
BYU scored its next five points off errors from the Rainbow Warriors. BYU's setter Noa Haine earned his first kill of the game to put the Cougars up 19-13, aiding Hawaii’s second timeout. The Rainbow Warriors took five of the next seven points, forcing a second BYU timeout. Thiim and Taylor recorded one more kill each, taking the Cougars to set point. BYU took the set 25-20 after an attack error from Hawaii.
The Cougars tallied 12 kills in the first set, hitting .391 while holding the Rainbow Warriors to a .185 hitting percentage.
Set Two
BYU took an early lead in the second set with a 5-1 run that included an ace from Thiim. After Hawaii’s first timeout of the set, the teams traded kills, but the Cougars maintained their lead. The Rainbow Warriors steadily gained ground, and BYU took its first timeout of the set at 17-15 when trailing by two. Hawaii took its first lead of the set at 22-20 after four-straight points, leading to another Cougar timeout. BYU held off the first set point for the Rainbow Warriors, but ultimately dropped the second set 25-22 for an even game at 1-1.
The Cougars added another 11 kills, 11 assists and four blocks in the second set, with a .611 kill percentage.
Set Three
Thiim took the first point of the third set with a kill, followed by three points from Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors took a narrow 12-10 lead after a string of kills from both teams. Following a BYU timeout after another 3-0 Hawaii run, Taylor, Thiim and Benson scored multiple kills to give the Cougars a 21-19 advantage. A block assist from both Hales and Benson would force a Rainbow Warriors timeout.
Hawaii scored two-straight points following the timeout, shortening BYU’s lead to one and forcing a timeout for the Cougars. BYU reached set point after a Rainbow Warriors’ service error, and Thiim secured set three 25-23 for the Cougars with a kill.
BYU hit .360 in the third set with 14 kills, nine digs and four blocks.
Set Four
Hawaii started the set with a 6-2 run, resulting in a BYU timeout. The Rainbow Warriors recorded four more kills and two aces to put them up 13-7. After a second timeout from BYU, Hawaii gained a nine-point lead, reaching 20 points with an ace. The Cougars held the Rainbow Warriors for three set points before losing the set 25-16.
BYU contributed 11 kills, 11 assists and eight digs in the set, with a .273 hitting percentage.
Set Five
A kill and block by Hales opened the fifth set, with BYU leading 5-1. Thim contributed another kill and an ace to give BYU an 8-4 lead going into the media timeout. Hawaii turned the tide with an ace and kill of their own and forced a Cougars timeout. The Rainbow Warriors took the lead 11-10 with another kill, but Thiim and Hales scored one point each to regain the advantage, forcing a Hawaii timeout at 12-11.
Hawaii took the next two points, leading to a BYU timeout, but the Cougars bounced back with a block and a kill to give them match point at 14-13. Hawaii scored a kill to stay in the match after another timeout. The teams traded points, and BYU had six match points that were fended off by the Rainbow Warriors. Hawaii finally broke ground with three sequential points and took the final set 22-20.
The fifth set saw a combined seven service errors.
Up Next
BYU will face Hawaii again at the Smith Fieldhouse tomorrow on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. MT. Follow the Cougars live on BYUtv, with a simultaneous cast on Big10+.