2018 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team

2018 West Coast Conference volleyball standings
	*invited to the 2018 Women's NVIC
	† – Conference champion ; y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament ; As of 2018-12-13; Rankings from AVCA; Source:West Coast Conference

2018 BYU Cougars women's volleyball
2018 BYU Cougars women's volleyball
WCC Regular Season Champ
NCAA, National Semifinals
Conference	West Coast Conference
2018 record	31–2 (17–1 WCC)
Head coach	Heather Olmstead (4th season);
Assistant coaches	David Hyte (5th season); Jonny Neeley (3rd season);
Home arena	Smith Fieldhouse
	Seasons ← 2017 2019 →

The 2018 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team represents Brigham Young University in the 2018 NCAA Division I women's volleyball season. The Cougars are led by fourth year head coach Heather Olmstead and play their home games at the Smith Fieldhouse. The Cougars are members of the WCC.

BYU comes off a season where they won the WCC regular season championship^[3] and once again participated in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Kentucky in the third round.^[4]

Season highlights[]

Roni Jones-Perry won the WCC Player of the Week (Sept. 3) and the AVCA Player of the Week (Sept. 4) awards for her performance during BYU's win over Stanford at the BYU Nike Invitational. Additionally she was the tournament MVP.^[5]
The 5,472 attendance against Utah was a record for the highest attendance ever for women's volleyball in the Smith Fieldhouse.^[6]
Mary Lake was awarded the #2 play on the SportsCenter Top 10 for the night for her save against Utah.
The 1,137 attendance at Weber State was a record for the highest attendance in Swenson Gym since it was remodeled and made specifically into a volleyball court in 2006.
Lyndie Haddock-Eppich won the WCC player of the week award on Sept. 17 for her performances against Utah and Weber State.
The 2,259 attendance at Portland was a record for the highest volleyball attendance at Chiles Center.
The November 17 game at Pacific was relocated from Stockton due to the California Wildfires causing bad air quality.
Heather Olmstead was voted as the 2018 AVCA Coach of the Year.

Roster[]

2018 BYU Cougars Roster^[7]

Defensive Specialist/Libero

9 Sydnie Martindale - Senior
18 Mary Lake - Junior

Opposite Hitters

5 Emily Lewis-Bushman - Junior
22 Sara Hamson - Sophomore

Outside Hitters

1 Taylen Ballard - Sophomore
3 Madi Robinson - Freshman
11 Lacy Haddock - Senior
12 Roni Jones-Perry - Senior
13 Danelle Stetler - Senior
14 McKenna Miller - Junior
20 Riley Lyman - Junior

Setters

6 Lyndie Haddock-Eppich - Senior
8 Tayler Tausinga - Freshman
15 Kiani Moea'i - Junior

Middle Blockers

2 Heather Gneiting- Freshman
5 Emily Lewis-Bushman - Junior
16 Allison Stapleton - Sophomore
21 Whitney McEwan - Freshman
24 Kennedy Eschenberg - Sophomore

Schedule[]

Date Time	Opponent	Rank	Arena City (Tournament)	Television	Result	Attendance	Record (WCC Record)
8/18 1 p.m.	Utah Valley	#8	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (UCCU Crosstown Clash)	BYUtv	W 3–0 (27–25, 25–22, 25–20)	N/A	Exhibition
8/24 5:30 p.m.	@ Duke	#8	Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC	ACC Extra	W 3–0 (25–22, 25–19, 25–16)	2,159	1–0
8/25 4:30 p.m.	@ Duke	#8	Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC	ACC Extra	W 3–1 (16–25, 25–19, 25–22, 25–17)	1,773	2–0
8/30 7 p.m.	West Virginia	#9	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (BYU Nike Invitational)	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–18, 25–11, 25–14)	1,201	3–0
8/31 7 p.m.	#1 Stanford	#9	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (BYU Nike Invitational)	BYUtv	W 3–2 (25–22, 25–20, 21–25, 20–25, 15–11)	3,389	4–0
9/01 7 p.m.	Wichita State	#9	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (BYU Nike Invitational)	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–16, 25–12, 25–20)	2,231	5–0
9/07 9 a.m.	vs. #10 USC	#3	Al McGuire Center Milwaukee, WI (Marquette Tournament)	Facebook	W 3–0 (30–28, 25–21, 25–14)	175	6–0
9/07 4 p.m.	vs. Syracuse	#3	Al McGuire Center Milwaukee, WI (Marquette Tournament)	Facebook	W 3–0 (25–23, 25–20, 25–20)	768	7–0
9/08 5 p.m.	@ #25 Marquette	#3	Al McGuire Center Milwaukee, WI (Marquette Tournament)	MUTV	W 3–1 (23–25, 25–22, 25–20, 25–14)	1,481	8–0
9/13 7 p.m.	#24 Utah	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (Deseret First Duel)	BYUtv	W 3–0 (25–20, 25–14, 25–17)	5,472	9–0
9/15 2 p.m.	@ Weber State	#1	Swenson Gym Ogden, UT	Pluto TV 235	W 3–0 (25–18, 25–18, 25–16)	1,137	10–0
9/20 7:05 p.m.	Pacific*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3–0 (25–12, 25–20, 25–14)	2,210	11–0 (1–0)
9/22 1:05 p.m.	Saint Mary's*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–10, 25–14, 25–13)	2,270	12–0 (2–0)
9/25 7 p.m.	@ Pepperdine*	#1	Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, CA	ESPNU	W 3–0 (25–15, 25–18, 25–21)	1,211	13–0 (3–0)
9/27 7:05 p.m.	Gonzaga*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–12, 25–10, 25–15)	1,741	14–0 (4–0)
9/29 1 p.m.	Portland*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3–0 (25–14, 25–15, 25–18)	2,109	15–0 (5–0)
10/05 8 p.m.	@ San Diego*	#1	Jenny Craig Pavilion San Diego, CA	TheW.tv	W 3–1 (25–21, 24–26, 25–16, 25–10)	1,382	16–0 (6–0)
10/11 8 p.m.	@ San Francisco*	#1	War Memorial Gymnasium San Francisco, CA	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–13, 25–20, 25–21)	313	17–0 (7–0)
10/13 2 p.m.	@ Santa Clara*	#1	Leavey Center Santa Clara, CA	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–19, 25–22, 25–13)	447	18–0 (8–0)
10/18 7 p.m.	Loyola Marymount	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3–0 (25–23, 25–15, 25–20)	2,884	19–0 (9–0)
10/20 1 p.m.	Pepperdine*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3–0 (26–24, 25–13, 25–8)	3,443	20–0 (10–0)
10/25 8 p.m.	@ Portland*	#1	Chiles Center Portland, OR	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–21, 25–16, 25–20)	2,259	21–0 (11–0)
10/27 1 p.m.	@ Gonzaga*	#1	McCarthey Athletic Center Spokane, WA	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–19, 25–20, 25–23)	1,362	22–0 (12–0)
11/02 7 p.m.	San Diego*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3–1 (25–19, 25–15, 22–25, 25–20)	5,082	23–0 (13–0)
11/08 7 p.m.	Santa Clara*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3–0 (28–26, 25–17, 25–11)	2,762	24–0 (14–0)
11/10 1 p.m.	San Francisco*	#1	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	TheW.tv	W 3–0 (25–12, 25–12, 25–9)	4,213	25–0 (15–0)
11/15 8 p.m.	@ Saint Mary's*	#1	McKeon Pavilion Moraga, CA	TheW.tv	W 3–1 (25–23, 25–23, 24–26, 25–16)	1,055	26–0 (16–0)
11/17 1 p.m.	@ Pacific*	#1	Cabrillo College Gymnasium Aptos, CA		W 3–0 (25–17, 25–19, 25–17)	233	27–0 (17–0)
11/20 8 p.m.	@ Loyola Marymount*	#1	Gersten Pavilion Los Angeles, CA	TheW.tv	L 0–3 (23–25, 25–27, 20–25)	820	27–1 (17–1)
11/30 7 p.m.	y- Stony Brook	#4 (4-seed)	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (NCAA Tournament 1st Round)	BYUtv	W 3–0 (25–20, 25–13, 25–12)	3,675	28–1 (17–1)
12/01 7 p.m.	y- Utah	#4 (4-seed)	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (NCAA Tournament 2nd Round)	BYUtv	W 3–0 (25–16, 25–21, 25–18)	5,183	29–1 (17–1)
12/07 4:30 p.m.	y- #16 Florida	#4 (4-seed)	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal)	ESPN3	W 3–1 (23–25, 25–13, 25–17, 25–19)	5,104	30–1 (17–1)
12/08 6 p.m.	y- #5/(5–seed) Texas	#4 (4-seed)	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT (NCAA Tournament Regional Final)	ESPNU	W 3–0 (25–23, 25–23, 25–21)	5,326	31–1 (17–1)
12/13 5 p.m.	y- #1/(1–seed) Stanford	#4 (4-seed)	Target Center Minneapolis, MN (NCAA Tournament Semifinal)	ESPN	L 0–3 (15–25, 15–25, 18–25)	17,808	31–2 (17–1)

^[8]

*-Indicates Conference Opponent

y-Indicates NCAA Playoffs

Times listed are Mountain Time Zone.

Announcers for televised games[]

All home games will be on BYUtv or TheW.tv powered by Stadium. All but one road game will also be televised or streamed. The Pacific game was originally scheduled to be streamed on TheW.tv, but a change in venues due to the bad air quality from the California Wildfires cancelled the stream.

Utah Valley: Spencer Linton, Jarom Jordan, & Jason Shepherd
Duke: Ryan Craig & Emma Paradiso
Duke: Ryan Craig & Emma Paradiso
West Virginia: Mitchell Marshall
Stanford: Spencer Linton, Amy Gant, & Jason Shepherd
Wichita State: Mitchell Marshall
USC: No commentary
Syracuse: No commentary
Marquette: Dan Avington and Zoe Comerford
Utah: Spencer Linton, Amy Gant, & Jason Shepherd
Weber State: Brandon Garside
Pacific: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Jason Shepherd
Saint Mary's: Mitchell Marshall
Pepperdine: Paul Sunderland & Holly McPeak
Gonzaga: Mitchell Marshall
Portland: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Jason Shepherd
San Diego: Nick Rice
San Francisco: Joe Hallisy
Santa Clara: Anthony Passarelli
Loyola Marymount: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Jason Shepherd
Pepperdine: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Jason Shepherd
Portland: Tom Kolker & Laura Humphrey
Gonzaga: No commentary
San Diego: Spencer Linton & Kristen Kozlowski
Santa Clara: Spencer Linton & Kristen Kozlowski
San Francisco: Robbie Bullough
Saint Mary's: Alex Jensen & Andy Schroeder
Loyola Marymount: Max O'Neill
Stony Brook: Spencer Linton, Kristen Kozlowski, & Jason Shepherd
Utah: Spencer Linton & Kristen Kozlowski
Florida: Sam Gore & Dain Blanton
Texas: Sam Gore & Dain Blanton
Semifinal: Paul Sunderland, Karch Kiraly, & Holly Rowe

References[]

For information on BYU's other fall and winter sports please check out the following:

^ "Brother and sister Shawn and Heather Olmstead named as men's and women's volleyball coaches". Deseret News. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-22.
^ "Sports Briefs for Thursday". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
^ "No. 7 BYU women's volleyball wins WCC championship, sweeps LMU". The Daily Universe. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
^ "13th-seeded BYU volleyball falls to host Kentucky in NCAA Regional Semifinal". KSL. Retrieved 2017-12-08.
^ "Player of the Year watch: Roni Jones-Perry grand in BYU's upset of Stanford". ESPNW. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
^ "#1 BYU sweeps #24 Utah in women's volleyball showdown". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
^ http://byucougars.com/roster/w-volleyball
^ "Olmstead releases 2018 women's volleyball schedule". Deseret News. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-08.

[1] "Brother and sister Shawn and Heather Olmstead named as men's and women's volleyball coaches". Deseret News. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-22.

[2] "Sports Briefs for Thursday". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2016-02-08.

[3] "No. 7 BYU women's volleyball wins WCC championship, sweeps LMU". The Daily Universe. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-22.

[4] "13th-seeded BYU volleyball falls to host Kentucky in NCAA Regional Semifinal". KSL. Retrieved 2017-12-08.

[5] "Player of the Year watch: Roni Jones-Perry grand in BYU's upset of Stanford". ESPNW. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-06.

[6] "#1 BYU sweeps #24 Utah in women's volleyball showdown". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2018-09-14.

[7] ttp://byucougars.com/roster/w-volleyball

[8] "Olmstead releases 2018 women's volleyball schedule". Deseret News. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-08.

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2018 West Coast Conference volleyball standings
v t	Conf				Overall
Team	W		L	PCT	W		L	PCT
No. 4 BYU ‍†‍‍^y	17	–	1	.944	31	–	2	.939
Pepperdine ‍‍‍^y	14	–	4	.778	22	–	9	.710
San Diego ‍‍‍^y	13	–	5	.722	18	–	13	.581
Saint Mary's ‍‍‍^y	11	–	7	.611	19	–	10	.655
Loyola Marymount ‍‍‍^y	10	–	8	.556	21	–	10	.677
Pacific ‍‍‍	8	–	10	.444	13	–	16	.448
Gonzaga ‍‍‍	8	–	10	.444	11	–	18	.379
Portland* ‍‍‍	6	–	12	.333	20	–	13	.606
San Francisco ‍‍‍	2	–	16	.111	9	–	20	.310
Santa Clara ‍‍‍	1	–	17	.056	6	–	24	.200
*invited to the 2018 Women's NVIC

† – Conference champion y – Invited to the NCAA Tournament As of 2018-12-13; Rankings from AVCA Source:West Coast Conference