BYU’s Olmstead Named MPSF Coach of the Year

Courtesy: MPSF

Brigham Young University Head Coach Shawn Olmstead guided the 2018 Cougars to their seventh MPSF Championship, and second in the last three years.

The Cougars are making their first-ever stretch of three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, all under the watch of Olmstead. Entering the NCAA Tournament, BYU has an MPSF-high .786 win percentage (22-6) with over 20 wins for the third-straight year.

The Cougars had five wins over the nation’s top-five this year, including a win at then No. 1 Ohio State, and nine wins over the top-10.

BYU began the year with a 5-4 record and proceeded to win 17 of 19 matches through the MPSF Championship. BYU also won the MPSF’s regular season outright with 10 wins (.833).

The Cougars rank at the top of the conference and second in the nation in blocks per set (2.81), while hitting .312 as a team and serving 175 aces this year (MPSF No. 2 in each).

BYU placed five players on the all-conference teams, including matching a high of four on the first team. Gabi Garcia Fernandez was named the MPSF Freshman of the Year and was one of just two first-year players to earn first or second team recognition combined, while Brenden Sander earned MPSF Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Olmstead was previously named MPSF Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm of the BYU men in 2016. The Cougars have posted an overall record of 75-15 (.833) and a 45-7 (.865) mark in MPSF action under Olmstead.

BYU now has six MPSF Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year awards (Olmstead-2018, 2016; Chris McGown-2013; Tom Peterson-2003; Carl McGown- 2001, 1999).

Backed by a 22-6 overall record and an MPSF regular-season and tournament championship, the Cougars are returning to the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in six years. This is first time BYU has ever been to three-consecutive NCAA tournaments.