BYU defeats Western Kentucky to advance to the sweet 16

244
Ari Davis
Alexa Gray serves the ball during the NCAA tournament game against Ohio. Gray had 22 kills in the second round of the tournament against Western Kentucky. (Ari Davis)

BYU women’s volleyball soundly defeated Western Kentucky to advance to the sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year.

“Yeah we are excited,” senior Alexa Gray said. “They are gonna be ready, we are gonna be ready, so it will be a great match. We are excited to get back to the sweet 16 and hopefully further.”

Gray finished the night with 22 kills and .541 hitting percentage. Amy Boswell also had a stellar night with 10 kills and six blocks alongside Camry Willardson who led the charge with 23 assists.

BYU started the set with Western Kentucky scoring right off from an ace. Gray answered right back from a kill to make the score 1-1. From there both teams rallied back and forth staying within a point or two from each other until the score was 13-13. Boswell and Whitney Howard assisted in helping the Cougars pull ahead with a pair of kills from each making the score 21-16. Western Kentucky pulled themselves right back into the game going on a 4-0 run catching back up to make the score 21-20. However, BYU was able to finish the set off a kill from Gray ending the set at 23-25.

The second set started with both teams rallying back and forth until both teams were tied 13-13. From there it was all BYU who went on a 9-1 run. Gray contributed to that run with four kills. From there the BYU continued to show dominance finishing the set 25-17.

BYU began the third set began like the others with both teams fighting back and forth, neither one taking a significant lead. When the score was 12-12, BYU pulled ahead going on a 9-3 run. Most of the points scored off errors from Western Kentucky, but also significant kills from Gray and Boswell contributed to the score with BYU taking the lead 21-15. BYU was able to finish the set winning 25-20.

BYU plays the sweet 16 game against Nebraska on Dec. 11.

 

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email