Natalie Orr | Posted: 5 Oct 2021 | Updated: 26 Oct 2021

No. 9 BYU hosts WCC opponents Portland and Gonzaga
No. 9 BYU

PROVO, Utah — No. 9 BYU women's volleyball will host West Coast Conference opponents Portland and Gonzaga this week, on Oct. 7 and Oct. 9, respectively. 

On Thursday, the Cougars will face the Pilots in the Smith Fieldhouse. In the program's history, BYU holds a 19-1 record over Portland. On a nine-match winning streak, the Cougars only posted one loss back in Oct. 2016. 

On Saturday, BYU will continue conference play and host Gonzaga. The Cougars hold another impressive record of 23-1 against the Bulldogs. BYU last lost to Gonzaga back in Nov. 2011.

No. 9 Brigham Young University Cougars (14-1, 4-0 West Coast Conference)

  • The Cougars are on a seven-match winning streak, winning all 21 sets and sweeping each team
  • On Monday, the conference dubbed middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg WCC Defensive Player of the Week
  • Junior middle blocker Heather Gneiting ranks No. 3 in the NCAA for hitting percentage, holding a .466 clip
  • As a team, BYU ranks No. 2 in the NCAA in opposite hitting percentage (.114), No. 3 in hitting percentage (.324), No. 6 in kills per set (14.31), No. 9 in aces per set (2.04) and No. 20 in assists per set (12.85). Aside from ranking No. 2 in assists per set, the Cougars lead the WCC in the other four categories.

University of Portland Pilots (4-9, 1-3 West Coast Conference)

  • Most recently, the Pilots posted two losses at home against Pacific (0-3) and Saint Mary’s (2-3)
  • Setter Paloma Bowman ranks No. 6 in the NCAA in triple doubles
  • Offensively, Jayde Harris leads the team with 136 kills and 18 service aces
  • Defensively, Grace Zilbert leads with 133 digs
  • Jiana Lawson has four solo blocks and 24 block assists

Gonzaga University Bulldogs (5-10, 1-3 West Coast Conference)

  • Last week, the Bulldogs hosted both Saint Mary’s and Pacific. The team posted a 3-1 win over Saint Mary’s, but fell 1-3 to Pacific. 
  • Gonzaga ranks No. 13 in the NCAA in aces per set (2) and No. 23 in team service aces (106). The team leads the WCC in the latter category.
  • Mckenna Marshall leads the team offensively, racking up 179 kills thus far. Kennedy Croft follows closely behind with 143 kills.
  • The team averages 11.1 kills per set, 1.6 blocks per set and holds an average hitting percentage of .199

Broadcast Information – Oct. 7

Broadcast Information – Oct. 9

TICKET INFORMATION

Purchase tickets online via byutickets.com.

MASK REQUIREMENT

Consistent with current Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and BYU requirements, BYU Athletics will require masks in indoor venues when physical distancing isn’t maintained. This includes a requirement for those attending indoor athletic events, such as volleyball in the Smith Fieldhouse and inside the loges at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Wearing a mask will be required for entry to indoor BYU venues. Masks will not be required for outdoor BYU venues.

BYU strongly urges students, employees and campus guests to follow recent counsel from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to get vaccinated and wear masks.

The university will continue to monitor the situation and will reevaluate mask requirements at the end of September based on several factors including the immunization rate of the campus community, COVID-19 transmission and hospitalization rates, and guidance from health and government officials.