Miller helps No. 10 BYU topple Boise State in three

POCATELLO, Idaho – Freshman McKenna Miller helped No. 10 BYU women’s volleyball to a three-set (25-11, 25-23, 25-18) victory against Boise State Friday night at Reed Gym.

“I think we did a good job offensively today,” BYU head coach Heather Olmstead said. “Our block got some great touches and slowed down a good Boise State offense.”

Miller led the Cougars with 17 kills while hitting a .324 clip. Lyndie Haddock contributed 31 assists while Mary Lake added a match-high 11 digs. Whitney Young Howard chipped in five blocks in the win.

BYU (7-0) got its first points of the first set against Boise State (5-3) from a pair of Amy Boswell kills. A trio of Miller kills then extended the Cougars’ advantage to three at 6-3. The teams traded points from there as the Broncos stayed within three, trailing 11-8. With Veronica Jones-Perry at the service line, BYU went on a 6-0 run to inch ahead 18-10. The Cougars finished on a 6-1 run, capped off by a Haddock ace, to take the set 25-11.

Boise State jumped out to a 4-2 lead to start the second set after multiple kills. BYU soon after used a 5-0 run to take a 9-6 advantage, forcing a Bronco timeout. The two sides battled back-and-forth from there until Boise State tied the set at 12-all following a kill. The Cougars slowly worked back a three-point lead at 19-16 following a Lacy Haddock kill. A kill from Miller gave BYU set point and a block from Howard and Jones-Perry ended the close set 25-23 in the Cougars’ favor.

The Broncos once again got off to a hot start in the third set, taking a 3-0 lead after a trio of kills. BYU worked to tie the set at 6-6 following a Lacy Haddock kill, but Boise State took the next three points to gain a 9-6 edge. The Cougars countered with a 5-1 run to take their first lead of the set at 11-10. The set stayed close from there as a Bronco kill kept them within two, down 16-14. After a Boise State timeout, BYU was able to cruise to a 25-18 set three win after multiple Bronco attack errors.

The Cougars return to action at Reed Gym Saturday, Sept. 10, beginning at noon MDT against Missouri. They will finish out the Idaho State Invitational against the host team later that night at 7 p.m. MDT. Links to live stats and a video feed for the Idaho State match can be found on the BYU women’s volleyball schedule page.