The No. 10 BYU Cougars defeated the Vanguard Lions in a three-set sweep (25-17, 25-15, 25-20) on April 2 in Costa Mesa, California, during their first-ever meeting.
The match was significant as it marked the initial contest between these two programs and showcased BYU’s strong performance this season. The Cougars improved their record to 18 wins and eight losses overall, with a conference record of five wins and four losses.
Connor Oldani led BYU with 11 kills on 27 attempts without any errors. Teflon-Jonathan Tufuga contributed eight kills and achieved a career-high five service aces. AJ Cottle added five kills and led the team with six blocks, while Trent Moser and Gavin Chambers each had four kills. Senior Jackson Fife tied his personal best by recording twelve digs for the fifth time in his career.
BYU started quickly in the first set with Tyler Herget serving, scoring the opening five points that included contributions from Tufuga and Oldani as well as an ace from Herget. The Cougars maintained control throughout each set, finishing with higher hitting percentages than Vanguard: .478 to .143 in the first set and .291 to .077 overall.
The second set was closely contested early before BYU pulled away on a decisive run capped by one of Tufuga’s aces. In the third set, a six-point streak featuring multiple players helped secure an early lead that held through to match point when Cole Hauser delivered the final kill after substituting into play alongside Tennison Lighthall.
Looking ahead, BYU will face Vanguard again tomorrow night in Costa Mesa. The upcoming match will be available for viewing on Big Ten Plus.
