No. 14 BYU to close out regular season at home against Santa Clara

PROVO, Utah – No. 14 BYU women’s volleyball will conclude the 2020-21 regular season March 30-31 with a pair of home matches against Santa Clara at the Smith Fieldhouse.

Both matches are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast on BYUtv.org and the BYUtv App.

BYU Match Notes

No. 14 BYU Cougars (14-1, 13-1 WCC)

BYU rose one spot in the weekly AVCA national poll to No. 14, marking the eighth week this year the team has been ranked in the top 15
The Cougars moved up to No. 1 in the WCC standings last week with a 13-1 record (.929 win percentage) and can clinch the league title if they win both of their matches against Santa Clara
Senior middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg repeated as WCC Defensive Player of the Week after averaging 2.67 blocks across six sets (16 total), helping BYU outblock Saint Mary’s 21-8 while holding the Gaels to a .110 hitting percentage
BYU ranks among the top 10 nationally in three major statistical categories: No. 2 in assists per set (13.78), No. 7 in hitting percentage (.304) and No. 7 in kills per set (14.61)
Eschenberg ranks No. 9 in the NCAA Division I in hitting percentage (.454) and No. 12 in blocks per set (1.48), leading the WCC in both categories
Sophomore setter Whitney Bower is 17th in the NCAA with an average of 10.98 assists per set

Series Information

This year’s season series was rescheduled for this week after being previously scheduled for Feb. 2-3 and being postponed due to Santa Clara delaying its season two weeks
BYU leads the all-time series 15-4, including nine straight victories
Under Heather Olmstead, the Cougars are 9-1, including 5-0 at home, against the Broncos

Santa Clara Broncos (5-9, 5-9 WCC)

Santa Clara is currently eighth in the WCC standings
The Broncos lead the league and rank No. 19 in the NCAA Division I with 1.88 aces per set
Sophia Tulino leads the WCC and ranks 41st nationally with .46 aces per set (24 total)
Julia Sangiacomo is second in the conference with 4.79 points per set (No. 36 in the NCAA) and 11.58 attacks per set (No. 34 in the NCAA)

Broadcast Info – Tuesday, March 30