LONG BEACH, Calif. - To extend its winning streak to seven matches, the No. 4 BYU men's volleyball team swept (29-27, 25-11, 25-16) No. 9 Long Beach State on the road, Friday. 

Freshman Josue Rivera led all players with a career-high four service aces while also contributing eight kills, six digs and two blocks.

Three Cougars recorded double-digit kills in the victory, led by senior Robb Stowell's 14. Taylor Sander and Futi Tavana contributed 13 and 10, respectively. Tavana also added a match-high six blocks.

With Stowell's 14 kills in the win, he moves into fourth place all-time in BYU history for total kills and is just four away from third place.

The 49ers jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first set and continued to lead until a kill from Russ Lavaja tied the score at 8-8, and a Rivera ace gave BYU it's first lead. The Cougars held onto the lead through the rest of the match despite Long Beach State coming within one point on three different occasions. Late in the set, the 49ers tied the score at 27-27 but the Cougars took the 29-27 set victory behind a kill from Sander and block from Stowell.

BYU took sets two and three in commanding fashion behind a blistering .750 team attack in the second set and .452 in the third. The Cougars' 25-11 victory in the second set is the largest margin of victory this season and a 25-16 win in the third would give them the match. 

The Cougars and 49ers will meet again tomorrow at 7 p.m. PT. The match can be followed on Gametracker and through online radio.

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Quick Look
Cougars: 17-4, 13-3
49ERS: 10-11, 5-9

The No. 4 BYU men's volleyball team will play two road matches this weekend against No. 9 Long Beach State on Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24. Both matches can be followed on Gametracker and through online radio. 

The Cougars are riding a 17-4 overall record after winning last weekend’s away matches in Hawaii. Senior Robb Stowell leads the Cougar offense on 263 kills with 4 other players recording 100+ kills and 6 more players recording in double-digit. Taylor Sander, Josue Rivera, Russ Lavaja and Futi Tavana have totaled 243, 207, 128 and 108 kills, respectively. Lavaja leads the team with 109 blocks and is third all-time in BYU history for total blocks. 

Tavana is now the all-time blocks leader & block assist leader in BYU’s rally scoring era and is just 8 away from becoming the solo blocks leader. Joe Kauliakamoa leads the squad with 681 assists.

The Cougars are averaging 3.3 blocks per set compared to their opponents’ 1.7 b/s and are leading the nation in their blocks per set.

Long Beach State holds a 10-11 overal and 5-9 league record this season, and are currently on a 3-game losing streak. Jim Baughman and Taylor Crabb leads the squad with 208 and 202 kills, respectively. Two other 49ers are recording 100+ kills and 7 more are recording double-digit kills. Jeff Ornee is leading the team with 71 total blocks and averaging .99 blocks/set. 

The Cougars are 22-18 all-time against the Tigers but just 9-11 against them on the road.

Follow: @BYUvolleyball
Like: BYU Men's Volleyball