No. 7 ranked BYU men's volleyball battled hard but fell short in consecutive matches against No. 2 UCLA at Pauley Pavilion over the weekend.
In a amazing opener Friday night, BYU forced UCLA to the edge in a five-set marathon but ultimately fell, 3-2 (22-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-27, 19-17).
The Cougars started strong, taking the first set with aggressive serving and precise attacks led by outside hitter Luke Benson, who recorded a team-high 18 kills. However, UCLA quickly rebounded, dominating the second set with a decisive 25-15 score behind strong offensive performances from Zach Rama, who led all players with 18 kills.
The match turned into a shooter battle with both teams exchanging shots for their team. BYU’s Teilon-Jonathan Tufuga contributed 10 kills, keeping the Cougars competitive. However, the Bruins showcased resilience, led by setter Andrew Rowan’s outstanding distribution, ending the night with 55 assists. Despite BYU saving multiple match points, UCLA clinched the victory in a dramatic fifth set, extending to a tense 19-17 finish.
Saturday’s rematch saw the Cougars unable to sustain their previous night’s intensity, falling to UCLA in four sets (17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 17-25).
The Bruins capitalized on BYU's attacking errors, holding the Cougars to a .134 hitting percentage, their lowest in MPSF play this season. UCLA maintained impressive offensive efficiency, recording a season-high .479 hitting percentage, powered by Cooper Robinson’s 14 kills.
Despite the struggles, BYU found bright spots in Keoni Thiim, who led the team with nine kills and three aces, and senior middle blocker Teon Taylor who contributed defensively with three blocks. UCLA’s depth, however, proved decisive as they secured the match with balanced attacks and staunch defense.
With the losses, BYU falls to 17-9 overall and 5-5 in conference play, while UCLA strengthens its position heading into postseason competition.
The Cougars now look forward to regrouping at home as they close their regular-season schedule against Pepperdine on April 18-19 at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
The final match will also serve as Senior Night, celebrating the contributions of Benson, Thiim, Taylor, Noa Haine, and Miks Ramanis. Both matches are scheduled to be broadcast live on BYUtv.