Big Scare in BYU

Friday, February 6

Provo, UT

6:00 PM

California Baptist University

3-8, 1-7MPSF

BYU

7-2, 6-1MPSF

California Baptist

BYU

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

2/6/2015 10:14:00 PM | Men's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

PROVO, Utah – California Baptist University came in and nearly spoiled the party, as BYU was in danger of dropping its record 30-match home winning streak after the Lancers won the first set in the Smith Fieldhouse Friday night.

The Cougars bounced back and were able to hold the Lancers off in four sets, 23-25, 25-18, 25-10, 25-15. No. 7-ranked BYU improved to 7-2, 6-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation this season. CBU falls to 3-8, 1-7.

Roy Powell finished with a match-high 15 kills for CBU, which received nine from Rocky DeLyon, eight from Enrique de Diego Garcia and seven from Rohit Paul. Zachary Melcher ended up with 36 assists and eight digs on the night. Powell also finished with five digs and two aces.

Things were neck-and-neck early on, with both teams playing to 16 ties and five lead changes in the opening set. The Cougars matched their biggest lead of the set at 17-15 before a 3-1 run fueled entirely by Powell kills tied things at 18-18.

A kill from Paul, ace from Powell and spike from Garcia helped even the score again at 21-21. Another kill from Garcia and one from Daniel Maurer kept things all square at 23-23. With the pressure on, BYU crumbled and committed consecutive attacking errors to give the Lancers the first set, 25-23.

CBU held close to the Cougars early in the second set, but BYU used a 3-0 run to take an 11-7 lead. The home team inched its advantage up to 16-12 and then 20-14 as it walked away with the second set, 25-18, to tie the match at a set apiece.

The Cougars continued to start fast, as they jumped out to big leads that left them with victories in the third and fourth sets.

The Lancers get another chance at spoiling BYU's home winning streak again Saturday with a 6 p.m. match.