The BYU volleyball team remains undefeated in league play after beating Loyola Marymount in a five-set match (23-25, 25-22, 26-24, 15-25, 15-11). This victory improves BYU to 12-3 (5-0 WCC).
'Another long, tough match with LMU,' head coach Shawn Olmstead said. 'I was proud of our kids staying strong through the ebbs and flows of this match. LMU is a tough team and put a lot of pressure on us from the service line.'
Leaders in this match were outside hitter Tambre Haddock with 16 kills, middle blocker Whitney Young with 9 blocks, setter Camry Godfrey with 42 assists and Ciara Parker with 15 digs.
Set one didn't start off well for BYU as Loyola Marymount gained a quick 5-2 lead. Coach Olmstead called a time out at 9-4 and the Cougars stepped back on the court with a 4-0 run to trail the Lions 10-8.
Haddock closed the gap with a block and kill and for the first time BYU took a slight 14-13 advantage. Both teams battled for points until the Lions had four kills and a 22-18 lead. BYU fought to tie the game at 23 but after a couple errors LMU took the first set 25-23.
BYU came out strong in set two taking an immediate 4-1 lead. LMU then scored five consecutive points taking a 8-6 over BYU. The Cougars gained momentum on a 9-1 run to take a comfortable lead 15-9. With a kill from sophomore Alexa Gray the Cougars took the second set 25-22.
The Lions stole the momentum in the third set with a 8-5 lead. The Cougars climbed back to take a 11-8 advantage but the score remained close the rest of the set. Towards the end Loyola Marymount pulled ahead 24-22, but BYU didn't give up and stole the set 26-24.
BYU let down their guard in the fourth set letting the Lions take a 10-4 lead from an eight point run. There was no come back for the Cougars as they trailed the whole set until Loyola Marymount won 25-15 to send the match into a fifth set.
Haddock led the Cougars in the fifth and final set scoring four of the first five points. BYU was ahead until the Lions tied the game half way through at 8-8. The Cougars had three kills from three different hitters and a solid block to take the match 15-11.
'I felt like it was definitely a team effort,' Godfrey said. 'I'd say Tambre really helped us in the fifth set with some huge kills.'
BYU returns to Provo to face Santa Clara on Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse.