UC Irvine Stuns No. 8 BYU with Dramatic Reverse Sweep in Provo
A hard-fought match ended in stunning fashion Friday night as No. 5 UC Irvine overcame a two-set deficit to defeat No. 8 BYU in five sets (16-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-13) at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo. The Anteaters extended their winning streak against the Cougars to five matches, handing BYU their first loss of the season.
The victory mirrored a similar outcome from a year ago, when UC Irvine also defeated BYU in a late January matchup of previously undefeated teams. This latest contest proved to be a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, ultimately favoring the resilient Anteaters.
BYU dominated the opening sets, showcasing a potent offensive attack and strong sideout percentage. A fast start in Set 1 saw the Cougars race to a 5-1 lead, eventually extending their advantage to nine points. Their 81.3 sideout percentage stifled UC Irvine’s rhythm, and a subsequent 4-0 run sealed the first set victory.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with BYU maintaining control throughout, despite a brief 12-12 tie. The Cougars responded with three consecutive points after the Anteaters evened the score, securing a comfortable 2-0 lead in the match.
“I thought we did some good things,” a BYU coach stated after the match. “But we play sports for the good and the bad, and the tough sometimes… sting just a little bit more.”
The turning point came in the third set, where UC Irvine finally gained a foothold. Despite a late surge from BYU, highlighted by a service ace from junior reserve opposite hitter Ian Little, the Anteaters eked out a two-point win, injecting new life into their performance.
Building on this momentum, UC Irvine took control in the fourth set, leading by as many as five points. Freshman outside hitter Trevor Herget provided a spark off the bench for BYU, narrowing the gap to 24-23, but the Anteaters held firm, forcing a decisive fifth set with another two-point victory.
“I don’t want to say we got tentative, but we sort of did,” the coach admitted. “There were some moments there down the stretch that we could have capitalized on.”
The fifth set proved to be a microcosm of the entire match. BYU initially seized a 10-5 lead, appearing poised to close out the victory. However, UC Irvine mounted a remarkable comeback, closing the set on a 10-3 run to secure a third consecutive two-point win and steal the match in dramatic fashion.
“We definitely played a level lower down the stretch and you can’t do that,” the coach emphasized. “If you lose the set, do it playing confident, playing aggressive, playing assertive.”
BYU will have a quick opportunity for redemption, facing UC Irvine again Saturday night at the Smith Fieldhouse. Following this rematch, the Cougars will embark on their first road trip of the season next week, with matches scheduled against UC Santa Barbara on Thursday and Friday. The contest with the Anteaters is slated to begin at 7 p.m. MDT.
