PROVO, Utah — BYU men's volleyball blue team defeated the white team four sets to none in the annual Blue vs. White volleyball scrimmage on Thursday night at the Smith Fieldhouse. The event was broadcast to a worldwide audience on BYUtv.org and the BYUtv App.
"It was good for our guys," head coach Shaun Olmstead said. "I was excited that BYUtv was able to broadcast the Blue and White match and give us the opportunity to be here in the Smith Fieldhouse in a game-like setting. We had pretty even teams on both sides as the first two sets went into overtime. It was kind of what we anticipated. I was excited to see some of the young guys play and the veterans have a chance to play together. There were some good things for sure."
Set 1 — The white team opened up a 9-4 lead in the first set before the blue team took the lead at 16-15. The blue team went up 23-20 but the white team tied it back up at 23, leading to a timeout. After multiple set-point rallies, the blue team won the first set on a tip by sophomore Alex Ah Sue, 28-26. Ah Sue led the blue team in the first set with four kills. Senior Miki Jauhiainen had three blocks in the set for the blue team. Junior Gabi Garcia Fernandez had four kills and two aces for the white team. Junior Felipe de Brito Ferreira also added three kills and one ace in the first set for the white team.
Set 2 — In the second set, the two teams battled back and forth and were tied at 13 before the white team took a 15-13 lead. After a 18-18 tie, the white team went ahead 20-18. The white team had two set points but the blue team rallied back to take the lead at 25-24 on a kill by Ah Sue, block by Ah Sue, and kill by sophomore Davide Gardini. The second set featured multiple set point rallies again, with an Ah Sue ace and Gardini kill giving the blue team a 29-27 win a two-set lead. Gardini tallied six kills and one ace in the second set for the blue team. Garcia Fernandez led the white team in the set, also recording six kills.
Set 3 — Both teams went back and forth once more in the third set before the blue team took a commanding 21-17 lead. The blue team went on to win 25-20, with freshman Anthony Cherfan's kill capping the set and match win for the blue. Cherfan had three kills, a block and an ace in the set. Gardini tallied three kills for the blue and Ferreira also notched three kills for the white.
Set 4 — In the fourth practice set, the blue team won 25-21. Garcia Fernandez led the white team with four kills in the set. Cherfan had a team-high two kills, two aces and two blocks for the blue team in the fourth set.
Garcia Fernandez finished the night with 14 kills, while Gardini and Ferreira each added eight. Jauhiainen racked up five blocks, and Cherfan finished with three blocks and three aces.
The 2020 BYU men's volleyball schedule is in the process of being finalized and will be announced at a future date.