PROVO -- In the last two games of the preseason, the BYU women’s volleyball team (3-7) will travel to Hawai’i (8-1) for a two-game series Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. HT.
The Warriors lead the all-time series at 5-14, having swept the Cougars in the last meeting on Dec. 5, 2003. Hawaii held a 16-0 perfect conference record in the 2009 season and recorded only three losses overall (32-3). The Warriors finished the season at No. 3 and prove to always be a volleyball powerhouse.
The Cougars are coming off a five-set nailbiter loss to in-state rival Utah State Tuesday night. The Aggies won in five, 23-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-19 and 16-18, coming down to the last set.
"It really comes down to serving and serving well," said BYU head coach Shay Goulding after the loss. "Every game they beat us was just barely by the skin of their teeth so our errors got to us. I think there a lot of positives from tonight. I think the girls and the lineup will work and all those things are super positive."
Despite the loss, four Cougars were in double-digit kills, with Christie Carpenter leading both teams with a match-high 17 kills. Senior Stephanie Snow and true freshman Jennifer Hamson both tallied 15 kills while sophomore middle blocker Nicole Warner had 11 kills, hitting at a .529 clip.
Libero Kendalyn Hartsock anchored the back row with 18 digs while setter Kiana Rogers had 11 digs and Coriann Clark had a career-high 12 digs. Rogers also chalked up a season-high 56 assists on the night.
Not only did the many Cougars attain season highs, the team tallied more kills, assists, a better hitting percentage, and more digs than the Aggies.
After the trip to Hawai’i, the Cougars will travel back to the mainland to open Mountain West Conference play against Colorado State and Wyoming at home in the Smith Fieldhouse Sept. 24 and 25, respectively.