UCLA Hands BYU Second Straight Four-Game Loss

LOS -- For the second straight night, the third-ranked BYU men's volleyball team dropped a four-game match at sixth-ranked UCLA, 15-2, 12-15, 8-15, 7-15. The loss drops BYU to 13-5, 10-5 on the season, while the Bruins take over second place in the MPSF Mountain Division with a 15-3, 9-3 record. The loss marks the Cougars' second two-match losing streak of the season.

The Cougars looked to find redemption after Thursday's four-game loss to the Bruins by taking game one, 15-2. However, the Bruins rallied to end BYU's pay-back aspirations with three straight wins, 15-12, 15-8, 15-7. BYU hit just 14-of-36 (.167) with eight errors in the final game of the match, while UCLA added 20 kills on 47 swings (.191) with 11 errors. The Cougars were outblocked throughout the match, 20.0 to 18.5, but managed to out-dig the Bruins, 72-61.

Mike Wall led BYU for the sixth straight match with 19 kills on 39 attempts. Joaquin Acosta added 16 kills, while outside hitter Casey Jennings added 11. After recording 27 digs on Thursday, libero Brad Goldston added 24 more to his season total, while setter Chris Pitzak picked up another double-double performance with 76 assists and 18 digs. Bunker also recorded double-figures in kills and blocks for the second straight match, recording 15 kills and 10 block assists.

UCLA was lead by Matt Komer with 23 kills, while Mark Williams and Evan Thatcher added 18 ad 16 kills, respectively. Matt Davis led the Bruins with 15 digs, while Scott Morrow recorded 11 blocks, including 10 block assists.

The Cougars continue their four-match, four-day road trip on Friday, taking on UC Irvine in the first of two matches. BYU will play the Anteaters at Crawford Hall in Irvine, Calif., at 7 p.m. (PST) on Friday and again at 3 p.m. on Saturday.