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CGY

0-1

[Brown Matthew] Kill by Manuel, Seba from (Van driel, Xander)

0

1

[Brown Matthew] Kill by Manuel, Seba from (Van driel, Xander)

BCO

1-1

[van Geel Zach] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

[van Geel Zach] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

1

1

CGY

2-1

[Kay, Sam] Ball Handling Error by Van driel, Xander.

[Kay, Sam] Ball Handling Error by Van driel, Xander.

2

1

CGY

2-2

[Kay, Sam] Service error.

2

2

[Kay, Sam] Service error.

BCO

3-2

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Czepuryk, Ethan from (Brown, Matthew)

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Czepuryk, Ethan from (Brown, Matthew)

3

2

CGY

4-2

[Czepuryk, Ethan] Attack error by Van driel, Xander (from van Geel, Zach).

[Czepuryk, Ethan] Attack error by Van driel, Xander (from van Geel, Zach).

4

2

CGY

4-3

[Czepuryk Ethan] Kill by Van driel, Xander from (van Geel, Zach)

4

3

[Czepuryk Ethan] Kill by Van driel, Xander from (van Geel, Zach)

BCO

5-3

[Westrate Thys] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

[Westrate Thys] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

5

3

CGY

6-3

[Czepuryk Cole] Kill by Godwin, Erik

[Czepuryk Cole] Kill by Godwin, Erik

6

3

CGY

6-4

[Czepuryk Cole] Kill by Woelders, Lucas from (van Geel, Zach)

6

4

[Czepuryk Cole] Kill by Woelders, Lucas from (van Geel, Zach)

BCO

6-5

[Woelders, Lucas] Attack error by Hutt, Cam (block by South, Ashton).

6

5

[Woelders, Lucas] Attack error by Hutt, Cam (block by South, Ashton).

BCO

7-5

[Woelders Lucas] Kill by Godwin, Erik from (Brown, Matthew)

[Woelders Lucas] Kill by Godwin, Erik from (Brown, Matthew)

7

5

CGY

7-6

[Godwin, Erik] Ball Handling Error by Kay, Sam.

7

6

[Godwin, Erik] Ball Handling Error by Kay, Sam.

BCO

8-6

[Van driel Xander] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

[Van driel Xander] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

8

6

CGY

8-7

[Hutt Cam] Kill by van Geel, Zach

8

7

[Hutt Cam] Kill by van Geel, Zach

BCO

8-8

[South, Ashton] Attack error by Czepuryk, Cole (from Brown, Matthew).

8

8

[South, Ashton] Attack error by Czepuryk, Cole (from Brown, Matthew).

BCO

8-9

[South, Ashton] Service ace (TEAM)

8

9

[South, Ashton] Service ace (TEAM)

BCO

9-9

[South Ashton] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

[South Ashton] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

9

9

CGY

9-10

[Brown Matthew] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

9

10

[Brown Matthew] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

BCO

10-10

[van Geel Zach] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

[van Geel Zach] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

10

10

CGY

10-11

[Kay, Sam] Attack error by Kay, Sam (block by Westrate, Thys).

10

11

[Kay, Sam] Attack error by Kay, Sam (block by Westrate, Thys).

BCO

10-12

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Woelders, Lucas from (van Geel, Zach)

10

12

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Woelders, Lucas from (van Geel, Zach)

BCO

10-13

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

10

13

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

—

Timeout University of Calgary

Timeout University of Calgary

BCO

11-13

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Czepuryk, Ethan from (Brown, Matthew)

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Czepuryk, Ethan from (Brown, Matthew)

11

13

CGY

11-14

[Czepuryk, Ethan] Service error.

11

14

[Czepuryk, Ethan] Service error.

BCO

11-15

[Westrate, Thys] Service ace (TEAM)

11

15

[Westrate, Thys] Service ace (TEAM)

BCO

12-15

[Westrate Thys] Kill by Godwin, Erik from (Brown, Matthew)

[Westrate Thys] Kill by Godwin, Erik from (Brown, Matthew)

12

15

CGY

12-16

[Czepuryk, Cole] Ball Handling Error by Brown, Matthew.

12

16

[Czepuryk, Cole] Ball Handling Error by Brown, Matthew.

BCO

13-16

[Woelders Lucas] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

[Woelders Lucas] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

13

16

CGY

13-17

[Godwin Erik] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

13

17

[Godwin Erik] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

BCO

13-18

[Van driel Xander] Kill by Manuel, Seba from (Woelders, Lucas)

13

18

[Van driel Xander] Kill by Manuel, Seba from (Woelders, Lucas)

BCO

14-18

[Van driel, Xander] Service error.

[Van driel, Xander] Service error.

14

18

CGY

14-19

[Hutt Cam] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

14

19

[Hutt Cam] Kill by Westrate, Thys from (van Geel, Zach)

BCO

15-19

[South Ashton] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

[South Ashton] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

15

19

CGY

15-20

[Brown, Matthew] Service error.

15

20

[Brown, Matthew] Service error.

BCO

16-20

[van Geel, Zach] Attack error by Manuel, Seba (from van Geel, Zach).

[van Geel, Zach] Attack error by Manuel, Seba (from van Geel, Zach).

16

20

CGY

17-20

[Durrant Zach] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

[Durrant Zach] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

17

20

CGY

18-20

[Durrant, Zach] Attack error by Westrate, Thys (from van Geel, Zach).

[Durrant, Zach] Attack error by Westrate, Thys (from van Geel, Zach).

18

20

—

Timeout University of British Columbia

Timeout University of British Columbia

CGY

18-21

[Durrant, Zach] Service error.

18

21

[Durrant, Zach] Service error.

BCO

18-22

[Manuel, Seba] Attack error by Czepuryk, Cole (block by Westrate, Thys; South, Ashton).

18

22

[Manuel, Seba] Attack error by Czepuryk, Cole (block by Westrate, Thys; South, Ashton).

BCO

19-22

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Godwin, Erik from (Brown, Matthew)

[Manuel Seba] Kill by Godwin, Erik from (Brown, Matthew)

19

22

CGY

19-23

[Czepuryk, Ethan] Attack error by Czepuryk, Cole (from Brown, Matthew).

19

23

[Czepuryk, Ethan] Attack error by Czepuryk, Cole (from Brown, Matthew).

BCO

20-23

[Westrate, Thys] Attack error by Van driel, Xander (block by Czepuryk, Cole).

[Westrate, Thys] Attack error by Van driel, Xander (block by Czepuryk, Cole).

20

23

CGY

21-23

[Czepuryk, Cole] Attack error by Van driel, Xander (block by Hutt, Cam; Brown, Matthew).

[Czepuryk, Cole] Attack error by Van driel, Xander (block by Hutt, Cam; Brown, Matthew).

21

23

—

Timeout University of British Columbia

Timeout University of British Columbia

CGY

21-24

[Czepuryk, Cole] Service error.

21

24

[Czepuryk, Cole] Service error.

BCO

22-24

[Woelders Lucas] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

[Woelders Lucas] Kill by Czepuryk, Cole from (Brown, Matthew)

22

24

CGY

23-24

[Godwin Erik] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

[Godwin Erik] Kill by Kay, Sam from (Brown, Matthew)

23

24

CGY

24-24

[Godwin, Erik] Attack error by Westrate, Thys (from van Geel, Zach).

[Godwin, Erik] Attack error by Westrate, Thys (from van Geel, Zach).

24

24

CGY

24-25

[Godwin, Erik] Attack error by Hutt, Cam (from Brown, Matthew).

24

25

[Godwin, Erik] Attack error by Hutt, Cam (from Brown, Matthew).

BCO

24-26

[Van driel, Xander] Bad set by Godwin, Erik.

24

26

[Van driel, Xander] Bad set by Godwin, Erik.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A 4×400-meter relay win closed out Vanderbilt track and field’s first meet of 2026, during which the Commodores broke two school records and compiled a total of 19 marks ranking in the program’s all-time top 10 over two days at the Rod McCravy Memorial Track and Field Meet.

After clocking the No. 2 mark in Vanderbilt history on Friday, London Jackson-Bray earned a top 5 finish in the 60 meters final with a time of 7.53 seconds.

Falon Spearman, who broke her own 60-meter hurdles record on Day 1, registered a time of 8.24 seconds, good for a second-place finish.

Five Commodores clocked times ranking top 10 in program history in the 300 meters. Ford led the way with a fourth-place finish and a time of 37.65 seconds, which ranks second in school history. Allyria McBride followed, coming in sixth with the third-ranked time in the Vandy record books, 37.78 seconds. Devyn Parham, Joy Moorer and Spearman’s marks are respectively ranked fifth, seventh and ninth all-time at Vanderbilt. Parham clocked 38.83 seconds for a 16th-place finish. Moorer and Spearman placed 24th and 25th with respective times of 39.24 and 39.36 seconds.

In the shot put, Sarah Marvin placed fourth overall with a 15.39-meter throw.

For the second meet in a row, Pryncess Jackson recorded a personal-best in the triple jump. The sophomore placed third with a 12.56-meter jump, improving her third-ranked mark in the program’s record books. Anaya Webster and Anya Carey registered marks of 12.33 and 11.96 meters, finishing seventh and ninth, respectively.

To end the weekend, Vanderbilt collected a win in the 4×400-meter relay with a squad consisting of Moorer, Faith Franklin, McBride and Madyson Wilson. The Dores turned in a time of 3:34.48, which ranks second in program history.

The Commodores return home to host the Vanderbilt Invitational Friday and Saturday. Fans can follow Vanderbilt track and field on Facebook, Instagram and X at @VandyXCTrack.

Penn State men’s volleyball opened its season with a 3-1 win over Mount Olive Friday night. Sean Harvey tallied 13 kills on the night, Miller Trubey added 10, and Owen Rose had six blocks for the Nittany Lions.  

How It Happened

Miller Trubey opened up set one with a kill, and Gage Gabriel added one of his own to give the Nittany Lions an early 2-0 lead. Maksim Kazanov swung hard to put Mount Olive on the board. Trubey struck for another kill, followed by a solo block. Carter Dittman got in on the action as well, but a kill-block sequence by Mount Olive tied the set at 6-6.

Harvey and Dittman stayed strong on the attack, the Lions keeping a short lead of 11-9. A Sean Harvey backrow attack and a Mount Olive foot fault gave Penn State the 17-15 edge. The Lions and Trojans traded kills, but back-to-back swings by Gabriel kept Penn State ahead by two.

Christos Savvidis ended the Penn State run, and Matthew Ekberg added a 5-foot line slam. Trubey’s sixth kill and a Schwob-Rose block ended set one and gave the Nittany Lions the 25-20 win.  

Harvey started set two with a solo block, and Trubey added a shot down the line, but a net violation and a Mount Olive kill tied it up 2-2. Kory Grant dominated set two for Mount Olive, starting with a strong attack down the line. A kill by Owen Rose and a triple block pushed the Lions ahead 6-4.

Mount Olive’s middle blocker Matthew Ekberg owned the block throughout the match, racking up his second of the set. Another attack by Trubey and Michael Schwob’s save and monstrous block pushed the Lions ahead 10-7. Solid defense and a Trubey kill forced a Mount Olive timeout.

Several attack and service errors by the Trojans gave the Lions an 18-11 lead. Rose tallied a solo block, forcing a Mount Olive timeout at 21-11. Trubey snagged an ace, but Grant began a 7-0 Trojan run with an ace, followed by another Ekberg block.

Grant then tallied another ace, and Lion errors forced Penn State to call a timeout at 23-17. A kill by Olszewski and another Grant service ace forced another Nittany Lion timeout, leading 23-20. Schwob took control with two kills, ending in another 25-20 set, and gave the Lions the 2-0 advantage.

Matthew Luoma opened the scoring with a kill for the Lions’ first point of the set. Kazanov and Harvey then traded kills, giving the Trojans a 7-5 advantage. After a slow start, back-to-back attacks by Rose trimmed the deficit to one.

Consecutive Penn State attack errors, followed by an Ekberg service ace, pushed Mount Olive ahead 14-10. An additional Lions hitting error and an Ekberg kill out of the timeout extended the Trojans’ lead to 16-10.

A service error briefly ended the run, but Mount Olive quickly recovered with swings from Kazanov and Ekberg. Kazanov’s tenth kill of the night stretched the lead to 20-13. Rose answered with consecutive middle attacks, though the Lions still trailed 22-15.

Jaidyn Bethel recorded his first career kill, followed by a Harvey kill and a block by Gabriel, prompting a Lions timeout with Mount Olive leading 23–19. Savvidos sealed the set with a kill, securing the 25–20 win for the Trojans.

Jaxon Herr got things started in the fourth set with a service ace, followed by a Harvey kill. Two Mount Olive errors extended the Lions’ early lead before Ekberg answered with a kill. Bethel and Rose added attacks to push Penn State out to a 7-3 lead.

Savvidos stopped the run with a powerful swing, but Harvey responded to make it 9-5. Two more Trojan errors forced a Mount Olive timeout. Out of the break, Rose delivered a service ace. Ekberg scored through the block, and Kazanov followed with an ace, but the Trojans still trailed 12-7.

Ekberg continued his strong showing at the net to make it 14–9. Gabriel and Ekberg traded kills before a Luoma swing landed, and a Rose block prompted another Mount Olive timeout with Penn State ahead 17–10. Bethel added a cross-court kill, Harvey scored on a roll shot, and Gabriel followed with a deep shot to extend the lead to 20–14.

Luoma struck again, and Rose added a kill, putting Penn State at match point. Ekberg and Kazanov kept the pressure on, delivering a collective 25 kills and seven blocks on the night, but a successful challenge overturned the final call, sealing the match win for Penn State.

Takeaways

• Harvey and Trubey opened the season strong with aggressive offensive play, positioning themselves as key offensive leaders moving forward.
• The team recorded 17 service errors on the night, including seven in the third-set loss, allowing Mount Olive to capitalize and force a fourth set. Reducing errors from the service line will create extended runs for the offense.
• The triple block proved to be a force for the Nittany Lions, being used quite often through the matchup and contributing to the 11 blocks on the night.

What’s Next?

Head Coach Mark Pavlik and his Nittany Lions will be back in Rec Hall at 3 p.m. on Saturday against the Manhattan Jaspers on Big Ten Plus.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 10, 2026) – South Carolina Track & Field opened the calendar year with a convincing showing in the Gamecock Opener, accumulating 16 combined wins in addition to a pair of program records.

South Carolina’s men’s squad captured nine wins in the home opener, including six on the track in addition to three in the field. Tyson Williams was at it again in his second meet with South Carolina, securing yet another program record in the 300m. Williams bested his own record when he ran 32.22 for the second fastest 300m time in collegiate history. Fellow teammates Josiah Wrice (32.36), Jasauna Dennis (32.93) and Andrew Salvodon (33.45) recorded personal best times as they moved into second, sixth and eighth respectively on the all-time program leaderboard.

Lucky Daje was responsible for two wins of his own in the 60m (6.76) and the 200m (21.25), now ranking 11th this season in the 200m sprint. Kaleb Burroughs was successful in picking up a win in the 600m when he crossed the line in 1:19.89 for the fourth best time in Gamecock history. The final individual win on the track belonged to Alexander Chukwukelu, running 7.90 in the 60-meter hurdle finals, fending off fellow teammate David Warmington who clocked 7.93.

In the field, South Carolina men picked up wins in the triple jump, pole vault and the shot put. Khaliq Muhammad recorded a new personal best clearance of 5.10m (16-8.75) for the win in the pole vault. Spencer Eison jumped 14.81m (48-7.25) in the triple jump for a personal best and a win of his own. Logan Montgomery secured his second win in as many meets in the shot put, throwing 18.35m (60-2.5).

The women were responsible for seven wins on the day, including five on the track and two in the field. South Carolina newcomer Jathiyah Muhammad made her Gamecock debut in style with a program record in the women’s pole vault. The Arizona transfer was able to clear 4.35m (14-3.25) in the home opener, ranking second in the NCAA. Fellow pole vaulter Hannah Togami finished runner-up and jumped into sixth all-time in school history after clearing 4.05m (13-3.5). Madison Childress secured the other field event win in the women’s long jump, jumping a personal best 6.05m (19-10.25) to currently rank 13th in the NCAA.

Tristen Harris picked up her second win of the season and first on the track, capturing the title in the 60m sprint with a time of 7.33 to rank seventh in the NCAA. In the 200m, South Carolina finished 1-2-3 led by Alexis Brown who crossed the line with the ninth fastest time in school history at 23.23. Brown’s time sits atop the NCAA leaderboard as she was followed by teammates Jalee Brown (24.03) and McKenzie Travis (24.08) who now rank ninth and 11th in the NCAA, respectively.

Just like in the 200m, South Carolina’s women finished 1-2-3 in the 300m, led by none other than JaMeesia Ford with a time of 36.52. The final individual win on the track belonged to Ella Zeigler in the women’s 3K, running 10:12.18. Sinead Joyce finished as the top collegiate runner in the 600m, clocking 1:36.84 for the seventh fastest 600m time in school history. Much like Joyce, Joslyn Hamilton also finished as the top collegian in the women’s 60-meter hurdle, running a new personal best time of 8.12 to finish runner-up. Hamilton’s time in the 60mH rank fourth in South Carolina history and currently ranks second in the NCAA.

The Gamecock 4×400 meter squads shut down the meet with a pair of wins. The men were led by Josiah Wrice, Tyson Williams, Andrew Salvodon and Jasauna Dennis who clocked 3:05.91 for the fourth fastest time in school history and fourth fastest time this season in the NCAA. The women’s 4×400 meter title team consisted of Cynteria James, JaMeesia Ford, Cohren Corbin and Joslyn Hamilton with the quartet running 3:40.04 for the sixth fastest time in the NCAA.

The Gamecocks will have next weekend off on the schedule as the Garnet & Black will not return to competition until Jan. 23-24 at the Orange & Purple Invitational hosted by Clemson.

Men’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
1. Lucky Daje – 6.86Q
2. Antwan Hughes Jr. – 6.86Q
7. Niles Briggman – 6.97q

60 Meters (Semifinals)
1. Lucky Daje – 6.78Q
2. Antwan Hughes Jr. – 6.80Q
9. Niles Briggman – 7.01

60 Meters (Finals)
1. Lucky Daje – 6.76
2. Antwan Hughes Jr. – 6.86

200 Meters
1. Lucky Daje – 21.25*
6. Niles Briggman – 21.79
7. Antwan Hughes Jr. – 21.84
8. David Warmington – 21.93*

300 Meters
1. Tyson Williams – 32.22*
2. Josiah Wrice – 32.36*
3. Jasauna Dennis – 32.93*
4. Andrew Salvodon – 33.45*
5. Robert Stitts Jr. – 33.94*

600 Meters
1. Kaleb Burroughs – 1:19.89*

3000 Meters
2. Sam Kolowith – 8:25.54*
— Marcellus Mines – DNF

4×400-Meter Relay
1. Wrice, Williams, Salvodon, Dennis – 3:05.91
3. Stitts Jr., Chukwukelu, Burroughs, Mines – 3:28.37

60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
1. Alexander Chukwukelu – 7.92Q
2. David Warmington – 7.99Q

60-Meter Hurdles (Semifinals)
1. Alexander Chukwukelu – 7.92Q
2. David Warmington – 7.95Q

60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
1. Alexander Chukwukelu – 7.90
2. David Warmington – 7.93

Triple Jump
1. Spencer Eison – 14.81m/48-7.25*

Pole Vault
1. Khaliq Muhammad – 5.10m/16-8.75*
2. Parker Samuelson – 4.80m/15-9

Shot Put
1. Logan Montgomery – 18.35m/60-2.5
2. Brandon Dennis – 16.67m/54-8.25

Women’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
1. Tristen Harris – 7.38Q
2. Madison Childress – 7.45q*
3. McKenzie Travis – 7.57Q
4. Kymora-Lee Williams – 7.60Q
5. Jalee Brown – 7.61Q
19. Hailey Duncan – 7.98

60 Meters (Semifinals)
1. Tristen Harris – 7.41Q
2. Kymora-Lee Williams – 7.46Q
3. Madison Childress – 7.49q
4. Jalee Brown – 7.51q*
5. McKenzie Travis – 7.57q

60 Meters (Finals)
1. Tristen Harris – 7.33*
2. Kymora-Lee Williams – 7.42*
3. Madison Childress – 7.45*
4. McKenzie Travis – 7.49
5. Jalee Brown – 7.51*

200 Meters
1. Alexis Brown – 23.23
2. Jalee Brown – 24.03*
3. McKenzie Travis – 24.08*
5. Madison Childress – 24.82*
7. Hailey Duncan – 25.04

300 Meters
1. JaMeesia Ford – 36.52
2. Maya Love – 38.16
3. Cohren Corbin – 38.65*
4. Kymora-Lee Williams – 38.83*
5. Cynteria James – 39.52

600 Meters
2. Sinead Joyce – 1:36.84*

3000 Meters
1. Ella Zeigler – 10:12.18
2. Emma Ashley – 10:18.15*
— Sinead Joyce – DNF

4×400-Meter Relay
1. James, Ford, Corbin, Hamilton – 3:40.04
2. Harrington-Spain, Garrett, Love, Chelangat – 3:40.24

60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
1. Akala Garrett- 8.28Q
3. Joslyn Hamilton – 8.39Q
4. Kyndall Harrington-Spain- 8.40q
5. Kennedy Flynn – 8.44q*

60-Meter Hurdles (Semifinals)
2. Akala Garrett – 8.28Q
3. Kyndall Harrington-Spain – 8.28q
4. Joslyn Hamilton – 8.29q
5. Kennedy Flynn – 8.50q

60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
2. Joslyn Hamilton – 8.12*
3. Kyndall Harrington-Spain – 8.27
4. Akala Garrett – 8.29
5. Kennedy Flynn – 8.51

Long Jump
1. Madison Childress – 6.05m/19-10.25*
2. Maliya Kinard – 5.69m/18-8.0

Pole Vault
1. Jathiyah Muhammad – 4.35m/14-3.25
2. Hannah Togami- 4.05m/13-3.5*
3. Bella Leonard – 3.75m/12-3.5*

* – denotes indoor PR

Opening night for any team with a lot of new pieces can be an adventure.

Or as BYU men’s volleyball coach Shawn Olmstead described it, weird and funky.

During Friday night’s 3-0 (25-22,25-20,25-18) sweep of Saint Francis at the Smith Fieldhouse to open the 2026 season, an attack from the Red Flash sailed out of bounds toward the Cougar bench. Olmstead — a former BYU libero — attempted to pass the ball but shanked it ten row up into the stands behind him.

He got a sheepish grin on his face and took a good deal of ribbing from his players.

“I told the guys I shanked the ball,” Olmstead said. “I’ve never done that, so just in general, it was a weird night. So I gave the guys a lot of slack because once that happened, I realized, OK, there’s just something funky in the air tonight.”

No. 8 BYU may have been a little bit out-of-sorts in its first match of the season breaking in four new starters but things turned out well anyway, mainly due to solid ball control, responding to adversity and a strong performance from senior Trent Moser in his return in a Cougar uniform.

Moser, one of four former Grand Canyon players who came to Provo after that school cancelled its men’s volleyball program last spring, led BYU with 14 kills, hit .333 and added four block assists to the delight of the 3,334 fans who filled the Fieldhouse.

“It’s amazing,” Moser said. “Playing here and playing at GCU was totally different. At GCU, we got around a thousand people a game. When I got here to warm up, there’s already a thousand people in the stands. It feels so good to have that much support. The first set today, it felt weird. Honestly, I feel like I was totally here just yesterday. It’s been like a year and a half or whatever, but I’m so happy I’m here.”

Moser said he was actually on the phone with BYU libero Jackson Fife when the GCU players were told the program was being cut. Fife immediately contacted the Cougar coaching staff, which led to Olmstead texting Moser. They were on the phone the same day to discuss a return to the fold. A week later Moser and GCU teammates Connor Oldani, Kyle Zediker and Max Phillipe came on a recruiting trip to Provo.

“I think it’s such a cool story because he’s a kid that goes to another school and becomes and All-American a circumstances kind of fall the way they did, and it was a credit to him and I think a credit to the guys and the coaching staff,” Olmstead said.

Moser added: “I said if Shawn wanted to take me back, I’m cool with it. We’ve always had a really good relationship. I talked to him and Devin (Young) and Otavio (Souza) at travel tournaments. There was no hard feelings, really. It’s just so easy to travel from Arizona to Utah for one year. I don’t want to travel across the country, I’ve got to go to Utah. I love this place.”

Moser was terrific in the first set, totaling seven kills on nine swings with just one error (.667). The Cougars hit .462 in Set 1 and led 13-7 when Gavin Chambers scored on a Saint Francis overpass. Later, the score was tied at 16 after three straight aces from Brady Stump rallied the Red Flash. From there, BYU righted itself and Moser got the final kill for the 25-22 victory.

Saint Francis — picked to win the Northeast Conference this season — got on a hot streak in Set 2, hitting .625 early to take a 13-8 lead. BYU came back to tie it up at 15 on a Oldani kill, then took control with a four-point run keyed by back-to-back aces off the bench from freshman Trevor Herget. Teilon-Jonathan Tafuga ruled the end of the set, getting three straight kills for the 25-20 win.

Set 3 was tied at 11 when the Cougars made their move, another four-point run with Moser’s attack giving the home team a 15-11 lead. A combo block between Chambers and Tafuga pushed the BYU lead to 23-16 and the high-flying Herget came off the bench for consecutive back-row kills for the final two points of the match.

“I thought we’d come out a little more aggressive and assertive because I haven’t had a team for quite some time that has done that so consistently in practice,” Olmstead said. “They’ve been doing it every single day. But I’m happy. They needed to get our here and kind of shake the rust off a little. You do it in a win and there were a lot more good things than not. I’m excited for everybody to see this team that we’ve seen over and over, because that’s a part of it, but it’s not even close to the level these guys will be at.”

Tafuga contributed nine kills on 15 swings with just one error (.533) and three aces. Freshman middle AJ Cottle added eight kills (.600) and four block assists and senior setter Tyler Herget dished out 35 assists along with eight digs. Oldani, making his BYU debut on the right side, had six kills and led the team with ten digs.

The Cougars outhit the Red Flashes .310 to .164 and produced 30 digs to the visitors’ 16.