MVLB–Cougars Sweep the Warriors

(I'm not sure who the little Japanese kid is)

I finally got to watch the Cougars play and the best part of it was that the game was an easy three set sweep. That, and I got to sit literally right behind the BYU bench. The Cougars were lead on the offense by none other than sophomore All-American, Taylor Sander (#15) with 18 kills. Futi Tavana (#17) lead the defense on the net with seven blocks, one which he blocked with his face. Sander also had four service aces, all which happened in the first set.

The game started easily and the Warriors weren't playing the neatest volleyball. Then, the rest of the set was the other five on the court could sit down as a major 10 point streak was lead by Taylor Sander, who camped on the service line. On a personal note, I don't ever want to be in the back row when he's serving because his serves are a lot more scarier than they look on T.V. Sander had four aces in the streak, and Hawaii called three timeouts while he was serving. The Cougars took set one, 25-14.

Set number two looked even crazier when the Cougars were on the other side. The Warriors woke up in this set and fought against swings and blocks, but it wasn't quite enough to win the set. The best part about this one was when Steve Hunt, outside hitter got a little cocky and broke Futi's block, then pointed to the ground. The very next play consisted of a facial block from Futi against Hunt that gave the Cougars a point. Futi then looked at Hunt and pointed to the ground. If any colleges are reading this, a quick tip, don't think that you can make Futi mad and get away with it. The second set went in favor of the Cougars, 29-27.

The third set concluded the match and was won by the Cougars. Hawai‘i came off to a good start, 3-0, but the Cougars came back to a four point run. The Cougars came off of an amazing run that followed a smashing kill from Futi Tavana. The Cougars swept the Warriors and stay on the road for Long Beach State.

Here are the pictures from that night that I took.

Jaylen Reyes (#12, LIB)

Taylor Sander (#15, OH)

Futi Tavana (#17, MB)

Me and Taylor Sander

My friends and I with Taylor Sander and Jaylen Reyes

MVLB–Cougars Dominate the Warriors

From the snowcapped mountains of Provo, Utah came the Cougars of the Brigham Young University to the sandy shores of Honolulu, Hawai‘i. While I was stuck in the Neal Blaisdell Arena for my school's Song Contest, little did people know that there was a battle being fought just a few minutes away. The Cougars came out breaking records in a five set victory against the Warriors of UH Manoa.

Sophomore swinger Taylor Sander (#15) came out to tie for the most amount of attempts in a singe match, with 58. He finished the night with 23 kills, only two points away from the total amount of points in a set.

6'7" senior middle blocker, Futi Tavana (#17) broke the record for most amount of blocks in a match, rejecting 14 of the Warriors kills. Futi stuck to the number 14 and also had the same amount of kills as blocks.

The Cougars back row even had their records for the night. For the first time this season, the Cougars had more than one player to get 10 or more digs. In fact, four of them had at least ten digs. Senior opposite Robb Stowell (#13) piloted the back row with 16 digs. Senior setter, Joe Kauliakamoa (#8) followed close behind Robb with 15, while Josue Rivera (#6) and freshman libero Jaylen Reyes (#12) both had 11 digs.

The first set was kept close the whole match, until 20, when the Cougars came out to push toward game point. The first set was where they had the most errors that night. The Cougars came out to take the first and second set, both with 25-23.

The third set proved the game to be a true battle as the Warriors pushed some of the best out of them, with Steve Hunt and JP Marks swinging for them. The Cougars came close, but the points went in favor of Hawai‘i in the end. The set score was 23-25.

Set number four came out with some swings and had the Cougars at the helm for the majority of the game. However, with Hawai‘i trailing by three and BYU a point from the match victory, the Warriors pushed hard and took the set 36-34.

The fifth and final set went back and forth exchanging points. The set tied four different times before BYU pushed forward to win the set 15-12, taking the match.

MVLB–Three Sweeps in a Row

After sweeping Pepperdine last week and sweeping Pacific on Friday, the Cougars of BYU put a third sweep in a row against the Tigers of the Pacific. The three set victory was lead once again by sophomore outside hitter, Taylor Sander (#15) who ended the night with a hitting percentage of .560. He ended with 15 kills and only a single hitting error. Swinging on the right side was Robb Stowell (#13), putting up 11 kills. He came out strong tonight, also leading the team in digs with 9, and 5 blocks. Also on the outside was Josue Rivera (#6) who went with 9 kills for the night.

The first set was a good start for the Cougars. The game tied 6 times, the Tigers only took the lead once before the Cougars came out to take set one. The front row swingers performed beautifully, Taylor Sander posting half of his kills in this set. The first set ended (25-21).

Set two was a bit of a turing point for the Tigers, who kept the game close, tying it seven different times, but never taking the lead. The score broke up with a typical tie breaker from Kauliakamoa and Sander. Pacific wasn't able to tie the game up again after that, and Russ Lavaja (#5) ended the set with a rejection to a kill attempt. The final set score was 25-20.

Awoken and startled by five straight sets lost to the Cougars, the Tigers woke up and pushed the game all the way till the end. The Tigers took a huge five point lead, leaving the Cougars at zero. BYU woke up and chipped off the Tigers lead. After the score tied several times, the score tied again at 20-20. The score went back to back again, BYU reaching 25 first. However, the game wasn't over yet. The Tigers trailed only a point behind, but a crushing kill from Rusty Lavaja ended the set (26-24), calling it a night and a sweeping weekend for the Cougars.

Finally, my time has come to see the Cougars in person as they fly here to Hawaii to play agains the Warriors of UH Manoa. Unfortunately, fate has blocked off Friday's game because of my school's annual Song Contest. I'll see them on Saturday and I'm extremely excited. If you're a Cougar fan, then be at the Stan Sheriff Center at 7:00 PM HST on Friday and Saturday for the game. IMUA COUGARS.

MVLB–Cougars Pounce the Tigers

Being second in BYU's blocking record (rally-scoring era), Futi Tavana (#17) came out to beat that record and beat it he did. Futi now has 541 blocks in his all time BYU career. He and the rest of the Cougars came out that night to get a straight, three set sweep against the Tigers of the Pacific. The all around hitting was led by, of course, Taylor Sander (#15) posting 11 kills on the board. Senior opposite, Robb Stowell (#13) came swinging on the backside with nine kills. Puerto Rican standout, Josue Rivera (#6) came out putting down 7 kills for points as well. Futi lead the team in blocking tonight with a total of 6 blocks. Senior setter, Joe Kauliakamoa (#8) posted 33 kill assists. Freshman libero, Jaylen Reyes (#12) lead all players with 6 digs.

Set one started off with back to back points with small leads and ties from both teams. The Cougars had big swings, but errors in serving and passing would keep the Tigers close on the Cougars tails. With three kills each from outsides Sander and Rivera, the Cougars would take set one, 25-23.

With a little bit of water and a pep talk from Coach Chris McGown, the second set proved to be a completely different story. The Cougars were lead in this set by both Stowell and Sander with four kills. BYU took the lead to start the game and never lost it. With two service aces from Sander and Futi in the middle, the Cougars ran away with this set, 25-12.

The third and final set was a bit of a wake up call for the Tigers, but Pacific wouldn't come very close. In the beginning, the Tigers kept it close with the Cougars. BYU realized that the Tigers were stepping on their tail, and ran away to leave them in the dust, 20-12. Pacific would only see the scoreboard six more times before the Cougars hit 25. The third set was finished by Josue Rivera, securing a three set sweep.

MVLB–Cougars Wipe Out the Waves

With a victory last night and the return of Taylor Sander (#15), the Cougars of BYU came out even stronger to take another victory against the Pepperdine Waves in three straight sets. "Anytime we get a block, it's huge, and the crowd goes wild," commented Sander, "We're one of the best blocking teams in the nation. That really helps our momentum and helps our energy throughout the game, and especially tonight." And right, Sander was, because with a few Empire State Buildings up on the net to block, even Maurice Torres had a hard time catching up. Sander lead offensively with 14 kills on the night. On his opposite side was senior opposite Robb Stowell (#13) with eight crushing kills, while Josue Rivera (#6), Futi Tavana (#17), and Russ Lavaja (#5) all matched up to 7 kills. Lavaja also lead blocks for the night, rejecting 6 of the Waves' hits.


Set one started off with the Waves scoring the first point, until the Cougars took control and ran away. Pepperdine still had their share of kills, however, service error after service error would cost them the loss of set one, the final score, 25-22.


The Waves picked themselves up, somewhat, to run a little further than last time, taking the lead in the beginning. At about midpoint, the Cougars finally gained a lead in the set. Setter Joe Kauliakamoa (#8) took this set a little further and destroyed the Waves with a few dumps and even kills, one of them to end set number two, final score, 25-23.


 With the Cougar fans up on their feet, dying to see their first sweep at home, the momentum in the air spread through the players, who were drinking and living off of cheers coming from the crowd. Rivera and Tavana lead behind an early four point lead, but after a time out, the Waves rolled back up to shore to take a single point lead. Without any mercy behind the ball, Sander sent a ball straight to the ground, nearly denting the gym floor. With the crowd in the air and off their feet, the Cougars battled against the rebellion of Pepperdine, dying to taste the victory of a set for the night. Again, with no mercy, the Cougars ran away with a five point lead to snatch the third set, therefore sweeping the match.


Don't miss the next game at the Fieldhouse, against No. 11 Pacific at 7:00 P.M. MDT, 4:00 P.M. HST. GO COUGARS!!!

MVLB–The Return of the King

For years now, the Waves of Pepperdine have always lead in victories against the Cougars, but tonight was a turning point. As the Cougars of BYU welcomed Pepperdine to the Smith Fieldhouse, they also welcomed back someone else. Returning from a major injury and a four week standby to lead his team is sophomore sensation TAYLOR SANDER (#15). With only a single practice before the game, Sander was still able to pound out Pepperdine with 21 kills for the night. He also put out 4 blocks against the Waves as well. On the back side of the setter was senior opposite Robb Stowell (#13) knocking out 16 points for the Cougars. In the middle was Russ Lavaja (#5) with 11 kills, and Futi Tavana with a season high of 10 blocks.

Pepperdines swinging was big, but the digs in the back were even bigger. The swings were huge from all sides of the court, especially with Taylor Sander swinging huge from the back row. With his swings and Futi blocking everywhere, the Waves fell 25-21.

While BYU has our big swingers, Sander, Stowell, and Josue Rivera (#6), Pepperdine had a couple of twin towers, Maurice Torres and Josh Taylor (Punahou graduate), both who played with Taylor Sander on the Junior National Team. The Waves came out to wash the Cougars out, not letting them come as close as five points. The Waves took set number two, 19-25.

For most of the game, all eyes were on Sander, who finally was able to play again after four weeks. Pepperdine stayed close up against the Cougars until BYU took it up a notch and gained a small lead. When a play kept going back and forth between the two teams, Russ Lavaja was given a beautiful set, which got sent straight to the ground, putting everyone in the stadium in the air. With electric momentum in the air, the Cougars racked up their points and took the third set, 25-19.

With the Waves downed and the Cougars adrenaline high, Taylor Sander and Robb Stowell lead the fourth set towards victory. BYU held the lead from the beginning and built off of point streaks every time. The Waves were only allowed 16 points before the Cougars took the set victory at 25. Good job Cougars and WELCOME BACK TAYLOR!

MVLB–Cougars Round Up the Gauchos

With a huge sense of vengeance from last year, the Cougars took out UC Santa Barbara in four sets. Last year, BYU ended their season on their home court to the Gauchos in the semifinals. Last night, they gave it back to them. Senior opposite, Robb Stowell (#13) lead the team in kills, putting down 17 balls for points, while also contributing 7 blocks for the defense. On the outside was our puertorriqueño, Josue Rivera (#6) with 11 kills, and Futi Tavana (#17) in the middle with a total of 9 kills. On Futi's opposite was Russ Lavaja (#5) rejecting the Gauchos hits 11 times for points. Even senior setter, Joe Kauliakamoa (#8) got his career high of kills, putting down 6 balls, while putting up 47 assists. Leading the back row defense was freshman libero, Jaylen Reyes (#12) with nine digs.

The Cougars piloted the game in the beginning and most of the end, but a six point streak would put the Gauchos tied with BYU at 18. With serve after serve being missed, the Cougars were downed by two points in the first set, and lost 28-30.

Upset with countless service errors at the most critical point in the first set, the Cougars fought back to redeem themselves. With Stowell on the right side and Phil Fuchs (#7) on the left, the Cougars ran down the second set, 25-17.

With momentum coming from the second set, especially from an eight point gap for a victory, the Cougars were all over the Gauchos hitters and especially on their defense. Fuchs, Kauliakamoa, and Futi all rallied up blocks for their team, including a solo block from Joe K. Third set was an easy victory, final score being 25-16.

With one more set from victory, the Cougars were ready to take full revenge from their last match. However, the Gauchos weren't ready to go down without a real fight just yet. The Cougars started off the match with a huge point streak and a lead, but after a timeout from the Gauchos, UC Santa Barbara handed them an even bigger point streak, giving them a one point advantage at 17-18. Taking matters in his own hands, setter Joe Kauliakamoa put down two straight balls to control the fourth set which started a five point stretch against the Gauchos, which was controlled by Russ Lavaja. Stowell had a huge swing at the end of the match, calling it a night for the Cougars.