Hosting the Cougars for the first time since 2010, the Wolverines were eager to show the strides they have made as a program since the beginning of a series between the schools that has heavily favored No. 25 BYU. The Wolverines started strong, winning the first set 26-24 but eventually were defeated in four sets, 1-3.
“I think it was a tale of two stories,” said UVU volleyball head coach Sam Atoa. “We felt like we were very competitive. After those first two sets BYU kind of took us out of our rhythm. It became a mental challenge for us. We didn’t pass the ball as well, we didn’t serve the ball as well, we just didn’t do some of those things that we were doing earlier, and that hurt us.”
UVU was 0-8 all-time entering the night against BYU. The superb start to the match was led by junior Kalani Norris, who finished the first set with a team-high 10 kills. UVU trailed, 22-24, before scoring the next four points, which were capped off by an emphatic spike from Norris that secured the set in favor of the Wolverines.
“I felt like over the weekend we just weren’t able to finish,” Atoa said in reference to the season opening La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational. “We got to the end and made some errors. It was really nice to find ourselves in that same situation. I challenged the girls and said we’re going to be there, so when we found ourselves there – for us to make a comeback and win – we’re going to learn from that.”
The Wolverines were able to build momentum in the first set that carried over into the second. Feeding off of the energy of the near-capacity crowd on hand, UVU managed to again strike first to open the set. BYU started to take control before the Wolverines pulled within four, trailing 18-22. The teams traded points until the Cougars again had a chance to win the set, up by four points. UVU scored the next two points but couldn’t replicate the come from behind win and dropped the set, 22-25.
Following the intermission the Cougars controlled the third set from the get-go, scoring 18 of the first 22 points en route to capturing the set. The Wolverines only managed 8 points, falling 8-25.
The outcome invigorated the Provo contingent, which showed up in numbers to support its Cougars. BYU not only had the momentum at this point but were playing with more confidence than UVU, evident in the fourth set’s 11-25 result in favor of the visitors that concluded the match and pushed the Cougars to 9-0 all-time versus the Wolverines.
“We did very well in those first sets, and we did very poorly in those last two,” Atoa said. “I think we’re going to be a very good team. If we’re going to look back and learn from this because of the success that we have – that’s part of being a championship team. I feel like we have a lot of good things that we can build on.”
UVU will play its next three matches in Tuscon, Ariz. on Sept. 6-7 as part of the Arizona Desert Classic.
