MVLB–Cougars Prove Who's No. 1

After losing to UC Irvine (No.1) in the MPSF Pre-Season Tournament, the Cougar's came back to show who really is number one. In three sets, the BYU swept the Anteater's off of their feet in three sets (25-20, 25-21, 28-26). With sophomore outside hitter, Taylor Sander (#15), leading their offense, the Cougar's were unstoppable. Sander came out with 17 kills and a career high of .727 hitting average (he's my idol for a reason). Quentin Smith (#2) took the defense on his back with four blocks and eight kills on the side. Starting senior opposite, Robb Stowell (#13) contributed to the offense with a total of 14 kills and four more blocks on the defensive side.

Set one started off going back and forth until BYU took an 8-5 lead with another Sander-Slam. The game tied up at 14 until Taylor Sander came out to put the Cougars up ahead again. At 24-20, senior setter, Joe Kauliakamoa (#8) set up Robb Stowell on the back side to seal up set number one. The final score for set one was 25-20, BYU.

The second set started off in favor of BYU with a 6-2 lead. At eight, the score went back and forth until they hit 11. That's when Taylor Sander came out and took a streak of aces. With the Cougars up 22-21, Josue Rivera (#6) and Stowell gave them two more points with kills. With one more point to go, Sander aced another serve, closing off set number two.

In set number three, the Anteaters came out to bump their game up and really gave BYU a run for their money. The points went back and forth, the game tying 16 times before the night was over. By the time the Cougars hit 25, they still had to continue because UC Irvine was still on their back. At 26-26, Taylor Sander gave the Cougar's two more kills to end the night and give BYU their first conference victory.