PROVO, Utah — No. 7 BYU women's volleyball faces a split week, traveling to Waco for a Top 25 matchup at No. 23 Baylor before returning home to host Texas Tech.
The Cougars (20-1, 12-0 Big 12) and Bears will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. CT, while BYU and the Red Raiders are set for a Saturday evening matchup at 6 p.m. MT.
| Week 12 Opponent Information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Date | Time | Stream | Live Stats |
| No. 23 Baylor | Thursday, Nov. 12 | 7 p.m. CST | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
| Texas Tech | Saturday, Nov. 14 | 6 p.m. MST | ESPN+ | StatBroadcast |
BYU moved up one spot to No. 7 in this week's AVCA poll, marking its highest ranking since Week 10 of the 2021 season, when the Cougars also ranked seventh.
Going 2-0 last week to extend its winning streak to 17 matches, BYU swept No. 25 Colorado in Boulder before earning a 3-1 win at Iowa State.
The Cougars hit .295 across seven sets on the road, holding the Buffaloes and Cyclones to a combined .198 hitting percentage.
Four BYU hitters posted hitting percentages of .300 or better on the week: Kelli Jo Burgess (13 kills, .480), Kate Prior (14 kills, .444), Brooke Hardy (15 kills, .400) and Elli Mortensen (26 kills, .300).
Setters Alex Bower (6.43 assists per set) and Kaylie Kofe (6.00) combined for 87 of the team's 104 assists, helping the Cougars average 16 kills per set.
Libero Lulu Po'uha averaged 3.86 digs per set, tying her career high with 22 digs in Ames. Burgess again led the Cougars at the net, averaging 2.14 blocks per set, including nine blocks against Colorado for the second time this season.
Burgess also posted 10 kills at Iowa State, her first double-digit kill performance of the season and the 11th of her career. Anna Blamires tied her career high with 12 kills in the match while setting a new career best with four blocks.
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, BYU ranks fourth nationally in hitting percentage (.301), 10th in kills per set (14.14), 12th in blocks per set (2.85) and 14th in assists per set (13.13).
The Cougars lead the Big 12 in hitting percentage and rank second in assists per set, blocks per set, kills per set and opponent hitting percentage (.186).
Individually, Burgess remains the nation's leader in blocks per set (1.89) and ranks fifth in total blocks (138). Hardy's .424 season hitting percentage ranks ninth nationally, with all three marks leading the Big 12.
Making just its second trip to Waco in series history, BYU also prepares for its fourth home meeting against Texas Tech in the last five matchups.
No. 23 Baylor (14-8, 6-6 Big 12)
- The Bears snapped a three-match losing streak, all against ranked opponents, with a 3-1 win at Kansas State on Sunday.
- Head coach Ryan McGuyre owns a 586-235 (.714) career record in his 25th season, including a 251-102 (.711) mark in 12 seasons at Baylor.
- BYU leads the all-time series 3-2. The Cougars won this season's earlier meeting in five sets, while Baylor claimed last season's matchup in Waco, also in five. Three of the five meetings in series history have gone the distance.
Texas Tech (8-16, 0-12 Big 12)
- The Red Raiders visit Utah on Thursday night before making the trip to Provo.
- Interim head coach Alisa Blair is 9-33 (.214) in her career and 2-14 (.125) at Texas Tech since taking over Sept. 13.
- BYU leads the all-time series 6-2. The Cougars have won all four meetings as members of the Big 12, including each of the last three by sweep.
Up Next
Beginning a three-match homestand, BYU will host Arizona and Cincinnati next Thursday and Saturday.