PROVO -- Off to a hot start, No. 2 BYU will take a break from MPSF play to head to Hawaii for a non-conference tournament. The Cougars will play 2006 national runner-up Penn State and Loyola Chicago. After this weekend, BYU will only play one other non-conference match (Feb. 13 at Cal-Baptist).
PENN STATE SERIES INFORMATION
BYU and Penn State have played 11 previous matches. The Nittany Lions hold a 6-5 series advantage over the Cougars. BYU has won five of the last seven matches after dropping the first four the two teams played. Six of the 11 matches the Cougars and the Nittany Lions have played have been on neutral floors, with BYU holding a 4-2 advantage at neutral sites.
Interestingly, Penn State is one of only two teams that BYU has a losing record against on the Cougars home floor (1-3). The Nittany Lions won the last match played between the two teams in five sets on Feb. 5, 2005. None of the seven matches have been sweeps.
LOYOLA-CHICAGO SERIES INFORMATION
When BYU faces Loyola-Chicago, it will be only the second match between the two teams. The Cougars beat the Ramblers in four sets to open their 2000 campaign. BYU and Loyola-Chicago have never played on a neutral court. The
Cougars beat the Ramblers at the Smith Fieldhouse.
MATCH COVERAGE
Every home match will have a free live stats feed option. The live stats feed can be accessed by visiting the men's volleyball schedule page at www.byucougars.com. The direct link is http://www.byucougars.com/Schedule.jsp?SP=201&YR=2006. The live stats can be launched by clicking on the "Live Stats" link for the appropriate game.
Also available for the second season in a row is a live video feed through CSTV All- Access. Users must subscribe to this service. More information, such as cost and direct links to the CSTV All-Access page can be found by visiting the the schedule page and cliking on the "Live Video" link. This weeks' matches will be televised locally on KFVETV (Ch. 5). Chris McLachlin (pbp) and Lisa Strand-Ma'a (color) will do the 4:00 p.m. matches. A link for live stats can also be found through BYU's Web site.
DOMINATING START
BYU is off to its most dominating start in program history (in terms of sets won vs. sets lost) in its first six matches. BYU has won 18 sets against only one loss. Previous to this season, the next best start in school history was the 2001 championship season when the Cougars started 10-0. In its first six matches, BYU won 18 sets while losing two sets (both against Lewis). The Cougars swept eight of their first 10 matches in 2001.
UP NEXT
Pending the results of this week's tournament--and the results of UC Irvines' matches this weekend--No. 2 BYU could have a No. 1 against No. 2 weekend for the second time in as many years. UC Irvine is ranked No. 1 in this weeks poll and BYU is ranked second. The Cougars and Anteaters will face off next weekend at the Smith Fieldhouse.
After UC Irvine, BYU will head back out on the road to take on Cal-Baptist and Pepperdine.