At 12-12 in the opening set, Thursday night still felt competitive.
Fort Valley State had matched BYU point for point inside the Smith Fieldhouse, swinging confidently and extending rallies against a team riding a long stretch of momentum. For a program in just its fourth season, the Wildcats did not look overwhelmed by the stage.
BYU answered with the kind of run that has defined its recent stretch. Service pressure forced Fort Valley out of system, transition swings found open space, and a tied set quickly turned into a 25-18 lead. From there, the rhythm settled in.
BYU completed the sweep 25-18, 25-16, 25-14, extending its streak to eight consecutive straight-set victories and continuing a stretch marked by efficiency and control.
W SECURED✔️ pic.twitter.com/6SHFmsbCuN
— BYU Men’s Volleyball (@BYUmvolleyball) February 21, 2026
The separation came through consistency rather than dramatic scoring bursts. BYU hit .468 as a team and sided out at 82 percent, while limiting Fort Valley State to a .197 hitting percentage. The Cougars totaled 46 kills against just 10 errors, preventing the Wildcats from building sustained momentum. Even when Fort Valley found offensive success, BYU responded calmly and reset the tempo.
Trent Moser and Connor Oldani led the offense with 12 kills apiece. Moser hit .500 and delivered key swings late in sets, while Oldani added 12 kills on .391 efficiency to stretch the floor from the outside. Setter Tyler Herget directed the attack with 35 assists, distributing across seven different hitters and maintaining balance throughout the lineup.
Fort Valley State showed flashes of the growth that has defined its short program history. Isaiah Fedd finished with 11 kills on .450 hitting, and Muhammad Mbaye added six kills on an efficient .714 mark. Early in each set, the Wildcats forced BYU to defend and stay disciplined, particularly during longer rallies that briefly tightened the score.
As the match progressed, BYU’s depth and precision became more apparent. The Cougars hit .500 in the second set and .583 in the third, gradually widening the margin before closing out the night in just over an hour. A crowd of 3,703 added to the atmosphere, growing louder as Fort Valley stepped behind the service line and reinforcing the home-court advantage.
The win marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs and continued BYU’s steady run of form.