New-look BYU claims sweep over Saint Francis to open its season

No. 8 BYU showcased its new talent in a season opening win over Saint Francis Friday night at the Smith Fieldhouse. Two transfer players and a freshmen duo found their way onto the court as the Cougars swept the Red Flash to get the season underway.

BYU made light work of the evening, increasing its margin of victory with each set and winning 25-22, 25-20 and 25-18.

“I’m happy,” BYU coach Shawn Olmstead said after the Cougars’ victory. “They need to get out here … shake their wings, get the rust off a little, and so we got to do it and … in a win. For the most part (it was) a lot of more good things than not.”

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One of the best things was Trent Moser’s return in a Cougar uniform after spending last year at Grand Canyon. The senior outside hitter led the Cougars in kills with 14 on a .333 hitting percentage.

“Overall, I think we did pretty good,” Moser said. “There (were) a few hiccups there … but I thought we did pretty well personally. Good first night.”

BYU was great to start, looking like it might run away with the first set, taking a 15-8 lead highlighted by two early service aces from junior opposite hitter Teilon-Jonathan Tufuga.

However, Saint Francis quickly erased its deficit, tying the score at 16 propelled by three service aces of its own off the hand of senior outside hitter Brady Stump.

That’s where the Cougars halted the visitors’ run, scoring the next two points to regain control of things and doing just enough to keep the Red Flash at bay and take the first set.

Olmstead felt his team could have had a better first set following some initial missteps.

“I believed we were going to come out a little more aggressive and assertive,” he said. “(Practice) day in and day out (has been) very high level, very up tempo and for the most part pretty darn good.”

BYU put that impressive play on display in the second set with a strong finish to it. After trailing for the majority of the set, the Cougars took over, outscoring Saint Francis 7-2 to close it out.

Minus the first point, BYU never led until it scored four in a row midway through the set to take a 16-15 advantage.

The two teams went back and forth from there before a pair of service aces from freshman reserve outside hitter Trevor Herget aided the Cougars’ late run and closed the door.

BYU again came on strong near the midway point in the final set, scoring nine of 11 points to overcome a slim Red Flash lead and go ahead 18-12.

Still, Saint Francis didn’t go away easily, forcing the Cougars to keep the gas pedal down before they ultimately cruised to the sweep.

“(We) got in a little rut,” Olmstead said of his team’s slow starts to the last two sets. “I let (our) leaders just kind of try to navigate that on the floor. … I wanted them to figure (it) out because I knew that they knew what to do, and they showed they did. (We) steadied out in each of those (sets) and kind of found (our) rhythm.”

BYU will look to keep its rhythm and start 2-0 on the year when it faces Saint Francis again Saturday night at the Smith Fieldhouse.

That match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.