BYU Volleyball beats USC in four sets

Eighth-ranked BYU came back after losing the first set to beat the fourteenth-ranked USC Trojans in four sets (26-28, 25-22, 25-23, 25-13).

The Cougars struggled to extend a lead throughout the first set, and it would eventually cost them the set. The Cougars had a set point opportunity, before trading points with the Trojans and eventually dropping the set, 26-28.

But Davide Gardini and Gabi Garcia Fernandez took over the match, and the Cougars sneaked out a tight second set, hitting .571 in the set. The Trojans were led by Gianluca Grasso, who was on fire against the Cougars. The Cougars won the set 25-22, evening the match at one set apiece.

The third set was again tight, and Gardini and Fernandez were again phenomenal. The Cougars struggled to extend any leads again, and the set was filled with several close officiating calls. Both teams had used all of their available challenges, and the Cougars came out on top, 25-23. The play of the match came in the second set, as Wil Stanley chased down a ball and the Cougars played the ball back to Trojans. The Trojans went in for the kill, only to be blocked by Miki Jauhiainen, as the Cougars went up in the set 23-21.

The fourth set was phenomenal from the Cougars, as they throttled the Trojans in the set with a final score of 25-13. Everything the Cougars threw at the Trojans went their way, and the Trojans had no answer for Gardini and Fernandez in the set. The Cougars hit a phenomenal .458 in the set.

The Cougars were outstanding on the night, hitting .322 and recording 60 kills. Of the 60 kills on the evening, 25 were from Fernandez and 20 were from Gardini. Stanley recorded an amazing 52 assists for the Cougars.

The Cougars improve to 6-4 on the season and 2-2 in the MPSF. The Cougars will next play on Saturday as they host Grand Canyon.