BYU males’s volleyball performs McKendree on the Smith Fieldhouse on Jan. 6, 2023. BYU Photograph
The BYU males’s volleyball season acquired underway Friday night within the Smith Fieldhouse in opposition to McKendree. The Cougars gained 3-0, giving them their first win in an opener since 2020.
BYU gained by set scores of 25-20, 25-21 and 25-20.
“We showcased a number of issues that we will do properly,” BYU junior exterior hitter Kupono Browne mentioned. “However we’ve acquired much more that we will entry in us. … We acquired some fireplace from behind the service line. However I imply, I’m excited to see extra from us shifting ahead.”
The match was McKendree’s first of the yr as properly and the fourth time the 2 colleges had performed one another. The earlier contests between the Cougars and the Bearcats had all taken place in Provo with BYU holding the 2-1 edge coming into the 2023 season.
McKendree’s solely win over BYU was a 3-1 triumph in 2019 when the 2 colleges final met.
Friday was a lot completely different than that night time 4 years in the past. This time round, the Bearcats seemed overmatched because the Cougars managed the competition and solely trailed on three events, every time by only one level.
“We all know what we're able to,” Browne mentioned. “Coming into this match we knew we had been able to strolling away with a win. And it was actually simply self-discipline, ensuring that we maintained our give attention to what we’re able to.”
The Cougars by no means trailed within the first set, making the most of the Bearcats’ eight service errors en path to the 1-0 benefit. Browne was masterful from the service line, securing three consecutive aces to get BYU to 19 factors and pushing his crew’s cushion to 6.
“For me it’s the routine,” Browne mentioned when requested about what goes into his spectacular serves. “I've 4 deep breaths earlier than I serve, and I’ve acquired to get these in. These are actually necessary.”
The Honolulu native hardly gave McKendree time to breathe together with his sturdy serving Friday.
“If it wasn’t for Kupono, we'd nonetheless be taking part in,” BYU coach Shawn Olmstead mentioned following his crew’s first victory. “He carried a load. … (He) went on some actually essential service runs.”
Browne completed the night with 9 kills and 4 digs to associate with his three aces.
McKendree acquired its first lead of the match close to the start of the second set. Nevertheless, it was quick lived. A 7-2 BYU run halfway via the sport put the Cougars again in management as they pressured their technique to a two-set edge heading into the break.
The ultimate set was much like the primary, the Bearcats committing eight extra service errors; BYU by no means trailing whereas happening to win by the very same rating. The Cougars used three completely different 3-0 runs to separate themselves from McKendree and choose up the sweep.
Regardless of the win, Olmstead is aware of BYU can play higher. “There’s for positive lots for the blokes to only form of be taught and develop from,” he mentioned. “It didn’t match what we’re doing each day in observe, in order that’s encouraging. I believe we simply want somewhat extra urgency in a number of completely different performs the place we had been simply actually somewhat extra informal than we’d prefer to be.”
BYU will look to enhance from match one to match two when it will get a shot at No. 14 ranked Lewis tomorrow night.
“They’re going to play large boy volleyball,” Olmstead mentioned of the upcoming contest with Lewis. “They’re going to take large whacks on the ball; excessive and deep within the corners. They’ve acquired the physicality to do it and it’s going to be a handful for us all over the place.”
BYU’s match with Lewis will start at 7 p.m.
McKendree will take to the ground previous to the Cougars and Flyers’ assembly, going through No. 8 ranked UC Irvine on the Smith Fieldhouse beginning at 4 p.m.