Fast start, third-set rally propels No. 2 BYU volleyball by Grand Canyon for MPSF title match berth
PROVO – Any chance of a slow start from BYU Men’s # 2 volleyball, the only team sitting idle on the first day of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament, was dashed in the first set.
And the second.
And after a short pause in the third movement, this one too.
Gabi Garcia Fernandez had 12 kills, four aces, and four blocks as the runner-up and top-manned BYU men’s volleyball swept Grand Canyon # 4, 25-14, 25-19, 29-27 in the Mountain Pacific semifinals on Friday Sports federation tournament at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Zach Eschenberg had 10 kills, five digs and four blocks for the Cougars (18-3), who competed in the championship game on Saturday for the third time in conference history and for the first time since 2008 against Pepperdine No. 3.
The Cougars simply dominated from the start, from four back-to-back aces from Garcia Fernandez in the first set to Eschenberg’s dive dig and ready for another blast in the second.
“We did it for our own team. We didn’t do it for the GCU or anything,” said Garcia Fernandez about the opener. “If we play the way we know it every time, we’ll do great. We start fast, we finish fast.”
Wil Stanley made everything easier, handing out 35 assists, five digs and three blocks for the Cougars (18-3), who scored at least 60% for sideout in each of the three sets.
“I told Wil he was the MVP tonight,” said BYU coach Shawn Olmstead. “I just felt like he did a really good job moving the ball and getting the ball from pen to pen.”
BYU’s Gabi Garcia Fernandez yells for a point to defeat the Grand Canyon in the semi-finals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships at Smith Field House in Provo on Friday, April 23, 2021. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
Camden Gianni had a match high of 15 kills to lead the Lopes (9-11) and Heath Hughes added 28 assists, five digs and three blocks.
BYU held the ‘Lopes on a negative hit en route to a 15-8 lead in the middle of the opening set. The GCU had only four kills with five errors on their first 12 hits, while the Cougars offensive had only one hit error on their first 12 tries.
In a season where nothing was guaranteed, the Cougars clinched their 18th win of the year – and are just one away from a guaranteed place in the NCAA tournament.
If that shows confidence, there is a reason for it. This confidence started in the opening sentence.
Garcia Fernandez shot four aces in a row to help the Cougars pull out once and for all at 20-9, en route to a 25-14 first-set win over Gardini. BYU held the Lopes on ,,000 hits in the set, with eight kills and eight mistakes on 20 swings, including four kills from two-time MPSF newcomer of the year Camden Gianni.
With a 2-0 lead, BYU scored 0.643 and scored 0.513. The Cougars had an unconscious sideout percentage of 80% in the second set.
And then Gabi had 4 aces … in a row. ? # BYUMVB # GoCougs
? – https://t.co/KZZKuPuUKEpic.twitter.com/6KK2OqCiaQ
– BYU Volleyball (@BYUvolleyball) April 24, 2021
But the Lopes came back on the third. Grand Canyon took the lead 22:19 in the third set after Gianni scored six kills.
“We can be proud of the way we left the building,” said GCU coach Matt Werle, whose team is in the MPSF for the fourth year. “We fought and we can be proud of that.
“Every year we’ve taken a step forward and we should go out here with our chins held high.”
Even so, the Cougars never doubted – neither Garcia Fernandez, who came on duty, nor the team.
“We called timeout and were super calm,” said the two-time MPSF Player of the Year from San Juan, Puerto Rico. “Just rip it up and do our job. Pass the ball and get a sideout.
“The volleyball game is super fun. You can win at eight or get blown out. We lost, and that’s fine. The best thing you could work for was stay calm and do our job.”
BYU reduced the deficit to 22-21 and finished the match 24-24, 25-25 and 27-27 before Garcia Fernandez in ’12. Kill the Night brought BYU the 29-27 win and sweep.
The Cougars bounced back on the final set, despite hitting just 0.286 to 0.300 of the GCU in the extra points win with three aces, and when Garcia Fernandez’s final blow hit the floor, he sent the reduced capacity sale of more than 700 fans into a frenzy – The loudest ovation Smith Fieldhouse received in the coronavirus-hit spring season, and one of the few venues with fans in the MPSF year-round as COVID-19 restrictions have shifted in California, Arizona and Utah.
“I don’t care about the point or anything. But the fans, that was crazy,” said Garcia Fernandez. “It was fun to have her back. It gives us chills every time.”
BYU and Pepperdine will compete against each other in the MPSF championship game on Saturday evening. The winner will receive an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. The first serve is scheduled for 7pm MT.
“We’ve all played against each other so often that I thought every game would be good. It’s just exciting volleyball for everyone,” said Olmstead. “I assume we will see a matchup like this.
“I think the world of this program … and I think the world of (Pepperdine head coach David) Hunt. They are going to play great volleyball, cut away, be disciplined and play really well as a group.”
No. 3 Pepperdine 3, No. 2 UCLA 0
Jacob Steele had 13 kills and two blocks, and Pepperdine rolled to a 25-20, 25-23, 26-24 sweep of the Bruins in the first semi-final at Smith Fieldhouse.
Spencer Wickens added 11 kills, three assists and three digs, and Bryce Dvorak dealt 33 assists for the Waves (13-5).
Cole Ketrzynski led UCLA (15-6) with 17 kills, four digs and two blocks, and teammate Kobrine Kevin added 15 kills and four digs.
Sam Kobrine distributed 40 assists and seven digs for the Bruins, who are ranked 6th nationwide in the latest AVCA coaching poll – one place behind Pepperdine.
Pepperdine posted two spots in a row – including a block from Steele and Austin Wilmot – on a UCLA setpoint in the third to crawl back before UCLA sent a long kill to win the sweep.
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