Match Stats
- #3 BYU def. #1 Long Beach State 3-2 (20-25, 26-24, 25-20, 21-25, 17-15)
- BYU moves to 21-2 (14-1 MPSF); LBSU falls to 21-3 (14-2 MPSF)
- Smith Fieldhouse, Provo, Utah
- Attendance: 5,213
The 3rd-ranked BYU Cougars took control of the MPSF regular-season title, and made a big push for a possible #1 seed in the NCAA tournament, when they beat top-ranked Long Beach State on Friday in Provo. The game was the most hyped matchup of the regular season, and lived up to every bit of that anticipation.
Albeit ultimately incidental to the final outcome, BYU senior All-American Ben Patch entered the game in the 5th set when the Cougars had a 14-13 lead, and played for 4 points without a kill. That’s his first action since February 4th as he’s been battling a groin injury.
While his contribution was minor, another hobbled Cougar had a huge impact. Price Jarman, who’s dealing with an ankle injury, finished the game with 9 kills on 12 attacks to lead BYU with a .750 hitting percentage.
BYU had 3 players in double figures. Jake Langlois, who’s carried most of the offensive burden since Patch went down, had a 20-kill outing (341 hitting percentage) for the first time this season and 3rd time in his career.
As a team, BYU was out-hit by Long Beach State .285-.255; out-blocked 14-11.5; and out-dug 54-53. Much of that, though, was the result of a statistically-lopsided first set where Long Beach State hit .519 to just .192 for BYU.
“I thought we got a little too carried away by every move and every fake,” BYU head coach Shawn Olmstead said. “We reminded the guys of the game plan. Once we started doing that, we were getting good touches. I’m proud of the way we competed through all five sets.”
Things fell apart in the final set for the Beach, though. 12 of BYU’s 17 points were scored on Long Beach State errors – 5 hitting and 7 service. Long Beach State hurt themselves at the service line all day long. In the 2nd set, they actually out-hit BYU .444-.250, but had a whopping 10 service errors.
Long Beach State got 25 kills from TJ DeFalco on 50 swings (8 errors, .350 hitting percentage). Amir Lugo-Rodriguez (8 kills, .727 percentage) and Bryce Yould (8 kills, .571 hitting percentage) also played well offensively for Long Beach State. Lugo-Rodriguez chipped in 6 blocks.
Video
Winning Points at a packed Smith Fieldhouse:
WHAT A MATCH! @BYUvolleyball takes it in the 5th from No.1 LBSU!
#1 LBSU – 15
#3 BYU – 17#BYU #LBSU #GoCougs #NCAAMVB
Way to go Cougars! pic.twitter.com/py6ET1zjHs— BYUtv Sports (@byutvsports) March 25, 2017
This is the 5th ACE tonight from @BYUvolleyball!
#1 LBSU – 12
#3 BYU – 16
Wow!#LBSU #BYU #GoCougs #NCAAMVB pic.twitter.com/4PiiByVacQ— BYUtv Sports (@byutvsports) March 25, 2017
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