OKLAHOMA CITY — Unseeded entering the NCAA tournament and subsequently dubbed huge underdogs throughout, the BYU women’s volleyball team managed to remain cool, calm and completely at ease with the grand stage it played on during its run to the NCAA championship match.
No, things didn’t turn out as planned, as players and coaches fought back tears addressing the media following Saturday’s straight-set loss to Penn State in the title match. At the tail end of all the questions, BYU coach Shawn Olmstead, as candid as always, provided a lot of insight on how it was done.
For Olmstead, he’d been there before. He was a player when BYU's men's volleyball team won championships in 2001 and 2004 and finished as a runner-up in 2003.
“I said, 'Just follow my lead,'” Olmstead said. “I’ll be quirky. I’ll grow a stupid mustache. I’m not going to change the clothes I wear, and I didn’t. I’m not going to change the things I do, and I didn’t.”
Olmstead’s relaxed and often goofy demeanor throughout helped provide a calming influence on his players that was apparent to everyone.
The enduring symbol of Olmstead’s unique demeanor was, of course, the mustache.
“I don’t care what people say. I never have and I never will. I have a friggin’ disgusting mustache right now,” he said.
As for the mustache, it’s about to go away at long last, at least according to Olmstead’s wife, Farrah, who nodded emphatically when he asked if it was time to shave it off during the postgame press conference.
ALL-TOURNAMENT PERFORMERS: Both Jennifer Hamson and Alexa Gray were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team at the outside hitter and opposite positions, respectively.
Penn State's Ali Frantti, Micha Hancock and Megan Courtney (MVP) were also named to the team, along with Stanford's Brittany Howard and Texas' Chiaka Ogbogu.
BLOCK OUT: BYU led the nation in blocks by a wide margin throughout the season. Going against Penn State, however, BYU's block was ineffective in too many moments.
The Cougars entered the match averaging 3.87 blocks per set, but only mustered seven total blocks to the Nittany Lions' 10, and just two blocks during the match's opening set.
According to BYU coaches and players, their ineffective block Saturday was more related to the Nittany Lions than themselves.
"They swing high, they're tall, physical girls, and they swing," said BYU middle blocker Amy Boswell. "I thought our blocks were in good spots personally, but they were going off high hands, which is a great strategy."
GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT: As always, BYU fans traveled from near and far to pack the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Despite the loss, the support was again noted and greatly appreciated.
"Our fans have been unbelievable," Boswell said.
"I just want to thank everybody, all the BYU fans," Olmstead added. "So many people have reached out to me, reached out to our girls. So many people traveled. Some drove all night to be here. And we can't thank them enough for supporting us and cheering on these kids."
Email: bgurney@desnews.com
Twitter: @BrandonCGurney