No. 10 BYU extends its winning streak to 11 with a four-set (25-12, 22-25, 27-25, 25-13) victory over Saint Mary’s Saturday afternoon in Moraga, California.
“I was very impressed with our composure through this match,” head coach Shawn Olmstead said. “The team stayed in the moment and didn’t get rattled by a good Pacific team. An overall great performance.”
The Cougars were one point away from going down two sets to one when Jennifer Hamson came up with a crucial kill to tie the set at 25-25. Hamson came up big with another kill to give BYU its second point of the set. The Gaels had an attacking error, which gave the third set to BYU 27-25.
BYU jumped out to an early lead in the first set at 8-3. The team stayed hot as it went on a 4-0 run and a 7-0 latter in the set. Alexa Gray led the Cougars with four kills in the set and helped BYU win the first set 25-12.
The second set was a back-and-forth set with six ties. BYU was able to get a five-point lead at 19-14, but Saint Mary’s went on a mini run and was able to take the advantage. The Cougars were only able to scratch out three more points the rest of the set as the Gaels tied the match at a set a piece with their second-set 25-22 victory.
BYU took the momentum gained in its thrilling third set victory into the fourth set. The Cougars jumped out to a 6-2 lead and never looked back. Hamson led BYU with five kills in a fourth-set 25-13 victory.
Gray led the Cougars with 21 kills and a .417 hitting percentage. Hamson added 15 kills and eight digs. Camry Godfrey Willardson had 26 assists, and Alohi Robins-Hardy added 14 assists and eight digs.
The Cougars are the only undefeated team left in WCC play. They look to extend their winning streak to 12 next Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. (PDT) in San Diego when they face the Toreros of San Diego.
