PROVO, Utah — After two heartbreaking five-set losses at home to No. 5 UC Irvine, the No. 8 BYU Cougars hit the road for the first time this season to face No. 15 UC Santa Barbara on Thursday and Friday.
About the Cougars
BYU has a 4-2 record. The Cougars started up the season with four straight wins over Saint Francis and then No. 10 UC San Diego. Last weekend provided a stiffer test against UCI. Both matches with the Anteaters went to five sets, with UCI getting a reverse sweep in the first match and BYU very nearly getting a reverse sweep of its own the next night. Both matches were in front of crowds of 4,000+ in the Smith Fieldhouse.
Senior outside hitter Trent Moser continues to pace the Cougars offensively with 3.31 kills per set, fourth most in the MPSF. Sophomore outside hitter/opposite Connor Oldani continues to contribute as well with 2.69 kills per set. He set new career highs in back-to-back matches last weekend, racking up 17 kills on Friday and 22 on Saturday.
Freshman middle blocker AJ Cottle had a remarkable start to the season and was named MPSF Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against UC San Diego which featured an 11-block performance in the second match. Cottle, however, suffured an injury in the first match last weekend which is expected to keep him sidelined from this weekend's action.
The Cougars will also be without one of their assistant coaches this weekend as Pacific announced today that Devin Young has been hired to take the reigns of the Tigers' men's volleyball program.
About the Gauchos
UC Santa Barbara comes into the weekend with a 5-1 recording, also starting the seaon off 4-0. The Gauchos defeated Kentucky State, Maryville, Harvard and The Master's. Then last weekend they faced No. 14 Stanford on the road, suffering their first loss of the season, 3-2, in match one. In the rematch, UCSB got revenge, picking up a 3-0 sweep.
The Gauchos are led by one of the nation's leading attackers, 6-foot-10-inch outside hitter George Bruening. He has 83 kills this season for 4.38 kills per set, eighth most in NCAA Division I. His 9.08 attacks per set are the sixth most in the nation.
UCSB leads the nation with the 2.57 aces per set. Junior setter Cole Schobel leads the team with 13 total aces this season. His 0.786 aces per set are the fifth most in the nation.
All-Time Series
Ths weekend marks the 73rd and 74th all-time matchups between BYU and UCSB. The last time these teams met was in 2023 when the Cougars picked up two 3-1 wins. BYU leads the all-time series 46-26.
Broadcast Information
Both matches this weekend will be available to stream live on ESPN+.