Brigham Younger’s Mitchel Worthington celebrates after a degree throughout an NCAA volleyball match on the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on March 10, 2023. Ryan Solar, Deseret Information
“Generally you simply obtained to win ugly,” BYU coach Shawn Olmstead mentioned after BYU defeated No. 15 Ohio State Friday night on the Smith Fieldhouse.
The eighth-ranked Cougars received by the slimmest of margins, needing 4 units to earn a seventh victory at dwelling. BYU took care of enterprise with set scores of 25-23, 25-23, 23-25, and 25-21.
“We simply made these unusual errors,” Olmstead continued. “There’s moments the place you’ve obtained to only transfer on and also you’ve obtained to provide the ball to the opponent. … Volleyball is all the time a recreation of momentum.”
The Cougars had simply sufficient momentum to beat the Buckeyes within the faculties’ first assembly in 4 years. The match was the eighth time that Ohio State had made the journey to Provo, however simply the second time within the final 21 years.
BYU entered the competition having misplaced 4 of its final six contests, all 4 defeats coming towards top-five competitors. The Buckeyes had not had significantly better luck, shedding three of their final 4. However BYU had the benefit Friday, taking part in at dwelling after practically a month on the street.
“It doesn't examine to wherever else,” Cougars’ sophomore outdoors hitter Luke Benson mentioned of taking part in within the Smith Fieldhouse. “It was simply superb. I find it irresistible right here a lot.”
There was quite a bit to like about what Benson did on the court docket after getting the nod within the beginning lineup for the third consecutive match Friday night. He made probably the most of his alternative, placing up 14 kills, a .452 kill share, and three aces.
“The coaches have been working with me quite a bit on it,” Benson mentioned of his serving after a powerful evening from behind the road. “They’ve been serving to me to comply with via and that’s actually helped me to drive the ball in, get the ball in additional.”
Benson and the Cougars went forwards and backwards with the Buckeyes within the first set, neither group holding greater than a three-point benefit. BYU’s largest lead of two factors got here on the excellent time, giving the varsity set level. Nevertheless, the Cougars practically squandered that chance earlier than a problem from Olmstead gave his group the victory and saved it from taking part in into further factors.
The next set, BYU instantly modified issues up, leaping out 3-0. Ohio State stored it tight from there, equaling the Cougars rating 5 instances down the stretch however by no means taking a lead. BYU once more minimize issues shut on the finish however nonetheless got here away with one other two-point victory.
Ohio State returned the favor following intermission, incomes its personal two-point win. The Buckeyes closed the set on a 5-1 run, retaining the Cougars from what would have been their fifth sweep of the season. Ohio State turned to junior outdoors hitter Jacob Pasteur, who completed the set with seven kills and a block, two of these kills and the stuff coming through the Buckeyes’ run on the finish.
“I don’t assume we have been excellent closing out,” Olmstead mentioned. “We confirmed that in each set the place we had a two-to three-point lead and let our foot off the fuel. So we’ve obtained to be quite a bit more durable. We’ve obtained to have much more coronary heart and much more battle and we didn’t tonight. That’s why it turned this match.”
BYU did a greater job within the last set, scoring three of the final 4 factors to tug away late and take the match with the most important margin of victory on the evening. The Cougars’ win retains them undefeated in Provo, the place they'll stay via the top of the common season.
Olmstead gushed over BYU’s followers and the determined dwelling court docket benefit they offer his group.
“It means the world to have the help we've got right here at BYU,” he mentioned.
The Cougars performed many of the contest with out senior setter Heath Hughes, who's recovering from a damaged finger. Nevertheless, Hughes did make just a few appearances interspersed all through the match, marking the primary time he had performed since a Feb. 11 victory over UC Santa Barbara.
Olmstead mentioned Hughes might even see a bit extra motion when BYU and Ohio State meet tomorrow night in Provo. The Buckeyes can be making an attempt to interrupt what's now a three-match shedding streak towards the Cougars. Ohio State’s final overcome BYU got here in 2017 after they beat the Provo college within the nationwide title.
After taking part in the Buckeyes for a second night in a row Saturday, the Cougars could have per week off earlier than resuming convention play.
Tomorrow’s match towards Ohio State is scheduled for 7 p.m. with stay protection on BYUtv.