Jones-Perry helps BYU beat UVU in spring opener

PROVO, Utah – Strong play from Veronica Jones-Perry helped BYU women’s volleyball beat Utah Valley in three sets (25-15, 25-18, 25-19) Thursday afternoon at the Smith Fieldhouse to begin spring competition.

Jones-Perry led the Cougars with nine kills while adding three aces and a block. Lacy Haddock added 10 kills and an ace and McKenna Miller chipped in six kills, an ace and a block. Additionally, Cosy Burnett had eight kills and two blocks in the win. Alohi Robins-Hardy and Mary Lake each had 10 digs.

BYU got off to a hot start in the first set, going up 4-0 after Miller’s only ace of the afternoon. Utah Valley scored the next four points to even things up 4-4, but BYU countered with an 8-1 run to go back up 12-5. A trio of Jones-Perry kills kept the Cougars ahead 19-12, and a Haddock kill ended the set 25-15.

The Wolverines took a 4-2 advantage to begin set two and stayed ahead 7-4 after a kill. BYU came storming back, however, going on an 8-2 rally to take a 12-9 lead. Utah Valley kept the score close, with help from Cougar errors, trailing just 14-13 midway through the set. BYU stayed on the offensive attack from that point, as a Burnett kill gave the Cougars a 25-18 win in set two.

The two teams remained within a point of each other until a Kennedy Redding block gave BYU a 7-5 edge in the third and final set. A Haddock kill extended the lead to five, 17-12, but a Wolverine block kept them within two, trailing 19-17. The Cougars ended the set on a 6-2 run, capped off by consecutive Miller kills, to win the set and match 25-19.  

BYU continues spring play at home next week, facing Utah Saturday, March 25, beginning at 12:30 p.m. MDT. The match is free and open to the public.