Weekend Matches Feature Two Top-Five Teams

Match Outlook

It’s a clash between two top-five teams this week as No. 5 BYU (4-1, 2-0 MPSF) hosts No. 3 Stanford (2-0, 2-0 MPSF) at the Smith Fieldhouse for a two-match series on Friday and Saturday nights. Both undefeated in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play, the Cardinal and Cougars share the lead in the loss column, along with USC and Cal State Northridge with three wins apiece.

The Cardinal opened the 2010 season 2-0 after back-to-back sweeps of No. 8 Hawai’i last weekend. Evan Romero, Spencer McLachlin, and Brad Lawson recorded a combined 38 kills as the Cardinal hit a strong .413 as a team against the Warriors (2-3, 0-2).

Series Info

BYU holds a 23-12 lead in the series between these two teams dating back to March 2, 1990. The Cougars hold a 10-4 record against the Cardinal in Provo, with their most recent victory coming in 2008. BYU has won nine of the past 13 matches and swept Stanford in six of those. Two of those matches went to four games, while BYU and Stanford each won a five-set match last season.

Match Coverage

Both matches will be broadcast live on BYU-TV. Fans may watch a live stream at www.byu.tv.

Live stats are available at the BYU men’s volleyball schedule page at www.byucougars.com. Gametracker can be launched by clicking on the “Live Stats” link for the appropriate game on the schedule.

Coming Off...

The Cougars are coming off back-to-back sweeps over Pacific last week to open the MPSF season 2-0. The 4,024 fans in attendance for the home opener on Friday marked the largest home crowd since the Cougars played then-No. 2 UC Irvine in front of 5,603 fans in 2007. Outside hitters Andrew Stewart and Kevin Sagers led BYU with nine kills apiece on Friday, while the team tied a season-high 18 blocks. Saturday Robb Stowell and Stewart led the Cougars with 13 and 10 kills, respectively, on way to a 30-21, 30-26, 30-23 win.