Cougars Extend Winning Streak

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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