Lauren Bosco | Posted: 14 Feb 2023 | Updated: 13 Mar 2023

No. 8 BYU travels to face No. 2 UCLA for conference opener

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Cougars at number eight

PROVO, Utah — BYU men's volleyball (8-2) extended its undefeated home streak to 6-0 with a pair of wins over No. 14 UC Santa Barbara last weekend, and now look to face No. 2 UCLA in California this week on Friday and Saturday.

Most recently, the Cougars hosted the Bruins in the Smith Fieldhouse in 2022, suffering a reverse sweep (28-26, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 9-15) on Senior Night. UCLA (11-1) is ranked second in the MPSF while BYU sits right below in third place. 

UCLA's freshman setter Andrew Rowan was recently selected as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Men's Collegiate Volleyball Player of the Week. Rowan led UCLA to a pair of wins over the No. 2-ranked Long Beach State last week. The Bruins also swept this week's MPSF weekly honors, with Rowan earning Defensive Player of the Week and senior outside hitter Alex Knight earning Offensive Player of the Week.

The Cougars moved up to No. 8 in this week’s AVCA coaches poll. This is BYU's fifth week in a row on the rankings, with the No. 8 spot being its highest rank since January 17, 2022. Last season, the Cougars highest ranking was eight. 

BYU’s senior libero Mitchel Worthington is just nine digs away from earning 500 career digs, and is currently seventh on the all-time dig list for the Cougars.

Series Information

  • Series Record: Tied at 36-36
  • Last Meeting: BYU lost 3-2 (28-26, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 9-15)
  • Home: 24-12
  • Away: 11-23
  • Neutral: 1-1

Broadcast Information

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