No. 14 BYU to close out regular season at home against Santa Clara

ExnUVPsVIAgm8kxExnUVPsVIAgm8kx

PROVO, Utah – No. 14 BYU women’s volleyball will conclude the 2020-21 regular season March 30-31 with a pair of home matches against Santa Clara at the Smith Fieldhouse.

Both matches are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast on BYUtv.org and the BYUtv App.

BYU Match Notes

No. 14 BYU Cougars (14-1, 13-1 WCC)

  • BYU rose one spot in the weekly AVCA national poll to No. 14, marking the eighth week this year the team has been ranked in the top 15
  • The Cougars moved up to No. 1 in the WCC standings last week with a 13-1 record (.929 win percentage) and can clinch the league title if they win both of their matches against Santa Clara
  • Senior middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg repeated as WCC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 2.67 blocks across six sets (16 total), helping BYU outblock Saint Mary’s 21-8 while holding the Gaels to a .110 hitting percentage
  • BYU ranks among the top 10 nationally in three major statistical categories: No. 2 in assists per set (13.78), No. 7 in hitting percentage (.304) and No. 7 in kills per set (14.61)
  • Eschenberg ranks No. 9 in the NCAA Division I in hitting percentage (.454) and No. 12 in blocks per set (1.48), leading the WCC in both categories
  • Sophomore setter Whitney Bower is 17th in the NCAA with an average of 10.98 assists per set

Series Information

  • This year’s season series was rescheduled for this week after being previously scheduled for Feb. 2-3 and being postponed due to Santa Clara delaying its season two weeks
  • BYU leads the all-time series 15-4, including nine straight victories
  • Under Heather Olmstead, the Cougars are 9-1, including 5-0 at home, against the Broncos

Santa Clara Broncos (5-9, 5-9 WCC)

  • Santa Clara is currently eighth in the WCC standings
  • The Broncos lead the league and rank No. 19 in the NCAA Division I with 1.88 aces per set
  • Sophia Tulino leads the WCC and ranks 41st nationally with .46 aces per set (24 total)
  • Julia Sangiacomo is second in the conference with 4.79 points per set (No. 36 in the NCAA) and 11.58 attacks per set (No. 34 in the NCAA)

Broadcast Info – Tuesday, March 30

Broadcast Info – Wednesday, March 31