No. 7 BYU loses in four sets to No. 4 UCLA

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Gabi Garcia Fernandez continued his impressive play with 11 kills, three aces, seven digs and three blocks, but it wasn’t enough to push No. 7 BYU men's volleyball past No. 4 UCLA, as the Cougars lost in four sets (16-25, 25-14, 25-19, 25-18) on Saturday at the John Wooden Center.

BYU vs. UCLA Final Box Score

Felipe de Brito Ferreira and Cyrus Fa’alogo led the team in blocks with five each, while Taylor Richards tied with Garcia Fernandez for the lead in digs with seven.

BYU took a 10-7 lead early in the first set and never looked back, using four service aces to propel them to the 25-16 win to open the match.

The Bruins came out swinging in the second set, taking a 9-3 lead thanks to two consecutive aces from Micah Ma’a. BYU brought it within four, 14-10, before UCLA put together a 6-0 run to extend it to 20-10. UCLA went on to win the second set, 25-14, despite BYU totaling six aces through two periods and five kills from Garcia Fernandez.

UCLA once again jumped out to an early lead, 10-6, in the following set, and was able to maintain the lead and win the third set, 25-19. Garcia Fernandez was up to eight kills and five digs after three sets, while Davide Gardini was close behind with five kills and four digs.

BYU kept it close in the fourth set, tying it up at 7-7 as Garcia Fernandez crossed the 10-kill mark for the fourth-straight match. The Bruins extended their lead to 14-9 before a block brought BYU back within three, 16-13. UCLA was able to pull away once again, and the Bruins’ 13th service ace of the night won them the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-1.

The Cougars fall to an even 4-4 on the season, 0-2 in the MPSF, while the Bruins improve to 10-2 overall and 2-0 in MPSF play. BYU returns home for its first match in the Smith Fieldhouse since the season’s opening weekend, taking on Concordia Thursday, Feb. 14, and No. 14 USC on Saturday, Feb. 16. The matches will be televised live on BYUtv and live stats can be found on the men’s volleyball schedule page.