WVLB–Cougar's Sweep The Pilots

Christie Carpenter

Camilla Phillips

Casey Thurston

In the final home game of the season, the Cougar's steer the Portland Pilots out of the game. Tonight was also the last home game for our three seniors Christie Carpenter (#14), Casey Thurston (#20), and Camilla Phillips (#10). This game was also the last game of the 2011 season. Jennifer Hamson (#19), 6'6" opposite for the Cougars, was on fire with 16 kills and a .560 hitting percentage. Hamson, yet only a sophomore, has really shown herself to be a leader on the court with amazing stats. She is always up there on the statistics chart and is constantly giving her all. BYU junior setter, Heather Hannemann (#2), also showed her heart out on the court with a total of 41 assists while junior libero, Kendalyn Hartstock put the defensive side up with 13 digs. The two teams went back and forth tying the game up and then breaking away until Hamson came out and earned the Cougars three kills in a row. The Pilots came back and put the score close with only one point difference. The score kept going back and forth again until Hamson, once again, broke it up with five stunning kills. The first set was 24-22 until sophomore middle blocker, Kathryn LeCheminant (#4), put up an amazing block and put a roof over that ball. The start of the second set was similar–back and forth points until BYU came with a 17-13 lead, but was broken up by the Pilots. Casey Thurston heard the call and answered with a kill, bringing the ball back to our side of the court. More back and forth points until Christie Carpenter took the team on a four point lead, resulting in a 23-16 lead. The Cougars only let Portland score one more time before taking the second set 25-17. The Cougars had 4 and 5 point streaks, but were always stalled and matched up by Portland. The Cougars pulled through a little more and left the Pilots trailing in the dust 16-21. The last set ended 25-19, leaving the Cougars with a three set sweep victory. This game ends the season for the Cougars. Their final record is 21-9, and 10-6 in the WCC.