BYU defeats GCU 3-1 in Arizona for first time since 2021

PHOENIX — The No. 6 BYU men’s volleyball team earned a 3-1 win (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-23) against No. 14 GCU at the Global Credit Union Arena on Friday evening for its first victory against the Lopes in MPSF play since 2021.

"I felt our guys were engaged and focused right from the opening serve," said BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead. "Their effort was on point whether we lost a long rally or not. Luke took a lot of big-time swings for us, especially when the entire gym knew the ball was headed his way. Teilon was steady all night, making good touches in the front row and back row. Most importantly, I was extremely proud of Miks' ability to stay in the course after a couple subs in and out."

BYU's hitters Miks Ramanis, Luke Benson and Teilon-Jonathan Tufuga all earned double-digit kills for the second match in a row. Benson boasted a match-high 16 kills and three aces, with Tufuga and Ramanis earning 14 and 11 kills, respectively. 

Senior middle blocker Teon Taylor finished with a match-high five blocks, going three-for-nine swinging.

Cole Hauser started in his first match for BYU, debuting as a libero in the Cougar lineup and collecting seven digs.

The Cougars (15-6, 3-2) outhit the Lopes with a .315 team clip, holding GCU to a .291 hitting percentage. BYU also collected seven aces to GCU's four.

Set One

Ramanis fired off three kills to give BYU a 7-6 edge in the early stages of the match. After four ties, the Cougars would pull ahead 16-11 by going on a 4-0 run, featuring three kills by Benson, forcing a GCU timeout.

BYU’s defense also aided the Cougars, with Taylor accomplishing a back-to-back solo block and kill to up BYU’s score to 21-14. Taylor would go on to have three blocks in the first set.

GCU survived through one set point for BYU, until a Lope service error would conclude the first frame 25-18.

Set Two

The second set also began in an even battle, with a sixth kill by Benson equalizing the score at 4-4. Back-to-back kills by Ramanis and Niko Hales, combined with a GCU hitting error, gave BYU a three-point lead at 10-7, causing a GCU timeout.

GCU cut BYU’s lead to 14-13 until the Cougars went on another run of their own, taking a 18-14 lead off back-to-back aces by BYU’s Teilon-Jonathan Tufuga. Another ace by Benson took the score to 20-15, leading to GCU burning its second timeout of the set.

The Lopes staved off two more of BYU’s set points, but a GCU service error gave BYU a 25-18 win, securing a 2-0 lead for the Cougars.

Set Three

Back-to-back kills by Tufuga and Benson gave BYU an early 6-5 lead. GCU managed a one-point lead at 10-9 before a 3-0 run by the Cougars gave BYU a 12-11 advantage, starring a Herget ace and Tufuga kill.  

BYU stayed on the gas as an ace by Benson gave the Cougars a four-point lead at 19-15, compelling GCU to burn a timeout. GCU found some fuel following the break, going on a 3-0 run for a 19-18 score. Two service errors by the Lopes would then give BYU a 22-20 lead.

GCU fought back to gain a 23-22 lead, urging BYU to call its first timeout of the set. The Lopes would follow through on a 5-0 run to complete a 25-22 win, forcing the game into a fourth set.

Set Four

The Lopes carried off their momentum in the third set, gaining a 7-4 lead in the fourth. A triple block by the Cougars cut the GCU’s lead to two, but GCU followed by going on a 5-2 run for a 12-7 lead.

A kill by Benson and Tufuga took the score to 13-10, with BYU still trailing. GCU would lead 15-11 heading into the media timeout. 

GCU handed the Cougars two points in a row off of errors, taking the score to 20-19 with BYU down one. Another crucial error by the Lopes took the score to 21-20, with the Cougars still trailing by one. 

Ramanis’ tenth kill of the evening balanced the score at 21-21, leading to a GCU timeout and BYU cheers erupting in the opposing arena. The Cougars profited off another GCU error, and earned a match-point at 24-23 courtesy of a Taylor block. 

An attack error by GCU handed BYU a 25-23 win, securing a 3-1 victory for the Cougars.

Up Next

BYU will face GCU on the road once more on Saturday, March 22 at 6 p.m MST, with live coverage on Big10+.