2015 BYU Cougars men's volleyball team

2015 BYU Cougars men's volleyball
Conference	Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
2015 record	17–10 (14–8 MPSF)
Head coach	Chris McGown (4th year)
Assistant coach	Rob Neilson (8th year)
Assistant coach	Mike Wilton (7th year)
Assistant coach	Carl McGown (4th year)
Home stadium	Smith Fieldhouse

The 2015 BYU Cougars men's volleyball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2015 NCAA Division I men's volleyball season. The Cougars, led by fourth year head coach Chris McGown, played their home games at Smith Fieldhouse. The Cougars were members of the MPSF and were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll.^[1] The Cougars finished the season 14–8 in conference play, good for fifth in the conference. They were eliminated in the first round of the MPSF Playoffs and did not make the NCAA Tournament.

2015 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation volleyball standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
#3 UC Irvine †^y	19	–	3		.864			28	–	5		.848
#6 Hawaiʻi ^y	18	–	4		.818			24	–	7		.774
#5 Pepperdine	17	–	5		.773			24	–	6		.800
#7 USC	15	–	7		.682			19	–	9		.679
#8 BYU	14	–	8		.636			17	–	10		.630
#9 UC Santa Barbara	13	–	9		.591			17	–	10		.630
#11 Long Beach State	11	–	11		.500			15	–	13		.536
#12 UCLA	9	–	13		.409			13	–	14		.481
#13 CSUN	7	–	15		.318			10	–	18		.357
#14 Stanford	7	–	15		.318			10	–	18		.357
Cal Baptist	2	–	20		.091			6	–	22		.214
UC San Diego	0	–	22		.000			2	–	26		.071
† – Conference champion y- Invited to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament As of June 2, 2015; Rankings from AVCA

Season highlights

• BYU began the season looking to replace Taylor Sander, a three-time All-American who was BYU's best attacker, best passer, and best server. Sander led BYU to the Final Four twice and to 3-consecutive MPSF Championship matches. Josue Rivera, who was second on the team in kills in 2014, comes in a little dinged after having off-season shoulder surgery. 3 starters return from the 2014 team: Rivera, Michael Hatch, and Jaylen Reyes. These three are largely expected to make-up Sander's production along with some newcomers.^[2]

Roster

2015 BYU Cougars Roster[3]
	Defensive Specialist/Libero 3 Evan Chang - Junior 8 Erik Sikes - Freshman 12 Jaylen Reyes - Senior Middle Blockers 1 Price Jarman - Freshman 17 Joseph Grosh - Sophomore 21 Christian Rupert - Freshman 23 Michael Hatch - Junior		Outside Hitters 5 Kiril Meretev - Sophomore 6 Josue Rivera - Senior 7 Phil Fuchs - Senior 10 Jake Langolis - Sophomore 14 Tyler Hutchins - Junior 15 Brenden Sander - Freshman		Opposite Hitters 2 Carson Heninger - Junior 11 Matt Underwood - Junior 16 Tim Dobbert - Sophomore Setters 4 Leo Durkin - Freshman 9 Tyler Heap - Junior 18 Robbie Sutton - Junior 22 Chandler Gibb - Freshman

Schedule

BYU Radio will simulcast all BYUtv games with the BYUtv feed.

Date Time	Opponent	Rank	Arena City (Tournament)	Television	Score	Attendance	Record (MPSF Record)
1/9 6 p.m.	vs. #2 Loyola-Chicago	#6[4]	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23)	483[5]	0-1[6]
1/10 5:30 p.m.	vs. #9 Lewis	#6	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	W 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 24-26, 15-11)	623[7]	1-1[8]
1/16 7 p.m.	#4 UCLA	#7[9]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-17)	4,105[10]	2-1 (1-0)[11]
1/17 7 p.m.	#4 UCLA	#7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (17-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-15)	3,961[12]	3-1 (2-0)[13]
1/23 8 p.m.	@ #8 UC Santa Barbara	#4[14]	Robertson Gymnasium Goleta, CA		L 3-0 (21-25, 18-25, 22-25)	380	3-2 (2-1)[15]
1/24 8 p.m.	@ #8 UC Santa Barbara	#4	Robertson Gymnasium Goleta, CA		W 3-2 (25-20, 25-19, 19-25, 19-25, 15-13)	625	4-2 (3-1)[16]
1/30 7 p.m.	UC San Diego	#7[17]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-18)	3,415[18]	5-2 (4-1)[19]
1/31 7 p.m.	UC San Diego	#7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT		W 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21)	2,463[20]	6-2 (5-1)[21]
2/6 7 p.m.	Cal Baptist	#7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-10, 25-15)	3,041[22]	7-2 (6-1)[23]
2/7 7 p.m.	Cal Baptist	#7	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20)	3,106[24]	8-2 (7-1)[25]
2/12 8 p.m.	@ #2 USC	#7	Galen Center Los Angeles, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-16, 25-23, 16-14)	900	8-3 (7-2)[26]
2/13 8 p.m.	@ #2 USC	#7	Galen Center Los Angeles, CA	Pac-12 Digital	W 3-1 (25-20, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19)	1,500	9-3 (8-2)[27]
2/20 7 p.m.	#9 Long Beach State	#5[28]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-22)	3,337[29]	10-3 (9-2)[30]
2/21 7 p.m.	#9 Long Beach State	#5	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (26-28, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23)	3,299[31]	11-3 (10-2)[32]
2/27 7 p.m.	#13 Ball State	#4[33]	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-23)	2,675[34]	12-3[35]
2/28 7 p.m.	#13 Ball State	#4	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-19)	2,890[36]	13-3[37]
3/6 8 p.m.	@ Stanford	#4	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 16-25, 18-25)	779[38]	13-4 (10-3)[39]
3/7 8 p.m.	@ Stanford	#4	Maples Pavilion Stanford, CA	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-1 (21-25, 26-24, 24-26, 18-25)	1,055[40]	13-5 (10-4)[41]
3/20 8 p.m.	@ #4 Pepperdine	#6[42]	Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, CA	WavesCast	L 3-2 (23-25, 26-24, 25-27, 25-13, 15-13)	1,188[43]	13-6 (10-5)[44]
3/21 8 p.m.	@ #4 Pepperdine	#6	Firestone Fieldhouse Malibu, CA	WavesCast	L 3-1 (24-26, 17-25, 25-23, 25-27)	1,454[45]	13-7 (10-6)[46]
3/27 7 p.m.	#5 UC Irvine	#6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	L 3-1 (25-20, 19-25, 27-29, 23-25)	3,962[47]	13-8 (10-7)[48]
3/28 8 p.m.	#5 UC Irvine	#6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	L 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 19-25, 18-25)	3,610[49]	13-9 (10-8)[50]
4/10 8 p.m.	@ #13 Cal State Northridge	#6	Matadome Northridge, CA	Matador TV	W 3-0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-15)	309	14-9 (11-8)[51]
4/11 8 p.m.	@ #13 Cal State Northridge	#6	Matadome Northridge, CA	Matador TV	W 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-22)	594	15-9 (12-8)[52]
4/17 7 p.m.	#1 Hawaiʻi	#6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-1 (27-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17)	3,780[53]	16-9 (13-8)[54]
4/18 7 p.m.	#1 Hawaiʻi	#6	Smith Fieldhouse Provo, UT	BYUtv	W 3-2 (22-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 15-13)	3,953[55]	17-9 (14-8)[56]
4/25 8 p.m.	@ #8 USC	#6	Galen Center Los Angeles, CA (MPSF Quarterfinal)	Pac-12 Digital	L 3-2 (17-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 13-15)	2,000	17–10

y-Indicates NCAA Playoffs

Times listed are Mountain Time Zone.

Announcers for televised games

• vs. Loyola: No announcers
• vs. Lewis: No announcers
• UCLA: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• UCLA: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• UC San Diego: Jarom Jordan & Steve Vail
• Cal Baptist: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• Cal Baptist: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• @ USC: Mark Beltran & Paul Duchesne
• @ USC: Mark Beltran & Paul Duchesne
• Long Beach State: Jarom Jordan & Steve Vail
• Long Beach State: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• Ball State: Spencer Linton & Steve Vail
• Ball State: Spencer Linton & Steve Vail
• @ Stanford: No announcers
• @ Stanford: No announcers
• @ Pepperdine: Al Epstein
• @ Pepperdine: Al Epstein
• UC Irvine: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• UC Irvine: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• @ Cal State Northridge: No announcers
• @ Cal State Northridge: No announcers
• Hawai′i: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• Hawai′i: Jarom Jordan, Steve Vail, & Lauren Francom
• @ USC: Mark Beltran

References

1. "BYU picked to finish sixth in the MPSF". Sun Times. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
2. "Cougars look forward to proving themselves without star Taylor Sander". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
3. http://byucougars.com/roster/m-volleyball
4. "AVCA Division I-II Men's Preseason Poll: December 10, 2014". Retrieved 2014-12-10.
5. "#6 BYU vs. #2 Loyola". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
6. "No. 6 BYU falls short in season opener to No. 2 Ramblers". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-09.
7. "#6 BYU vs. #9 Lewis". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
8. "Langlois and BYU beat Lewis in five-set thriller". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
9. "AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #1 Poll: January 12, 2015". Retrieved 2015-01-12.
10. "#4 UCLA vs. #7 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
11. "Cougars upset No. 4 Bruins in home opener". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-16.
12. "#4 UCLA vs. #7 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
13. "BYU volleyball team wraps up big weekend with another win over No. 4 UCLA". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
14. "AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #2 Poll: January 19, 2015". Retrieved 2015-01-19.
15. "Cougars upset at UCSB in first conference road battle". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
16. "Langlois leads No. 4 BYU past No. 8 UCSB in five-set thriller". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-24.
17. "AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #3 Poll: January 26, 2015". Retrieved 2015-01-26.
18. "UC San Diego vs. #7 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
19. "No. 7 BYU sweeps UC San Diego for 31st-straight home win". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
20. "UC San Diego vs. #7 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
21. "BYU Cougar spikers take down San Diego in straight sets on consecutive nights". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-01-31.
22. "Cal Baptist vs. #7 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
23. "Cougars beat Cal Baptist behind Grosh's career night". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
24. "Cal Baptist vs. #7 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
25. "BYU men's volleyball team takes down Cal Baptist in straight sets". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
26. "No. 7 BYU loses a five-set heartbreaker to No. 2 USC". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
27. "Underwood and Cougars upset No. 2 USC on the road". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-02-14.
28. "AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #6 Poll: February 16, 2015". Retrieved 2015-02-16.
29. "#9 Long Beach State vs. #5 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
30. "Underwood hits career high in BYU volleyball’s sweep of LBSU". The Universe. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
31. "#9 Long Beach State vs. #5 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
32. "BYU men's volleyball takes a thrilling 4-set match over Long Beach State". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-02-21.
33. "AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #7 Poll: February 23, 2015". Retrieved 2015-02-23.
34. "#13 Ball State vs. #4 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
35. "Cougars sweep Cardinals behind Sander's eight kills". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
36. "#13 Ball State vs. #4 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
37. "The Cougars sweep Ball State on consecutive nights". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
38. "#4 BYU vs. Stanford". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
39. "No. 4 BYU upset at Stanford". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
40. "#4 BYU vs. Stanford". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-03-07.
41. "Despite career nights, Cougars fall at Stanford". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-03-07.
42. "AVCA Division I-II Men's Week #10 Poll: March 16, 2015". Retrieved 2015-03-16.
43. "#6 BYU vs. #4 Pepperdine". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
44. "Cougars fall in tough five-set battle at Pepperdine". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
45. "#6 BYU vs. #4 Pepperdine". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
46. "No. 6 BYU falls short at No. 4 Pepperdine". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
47. "#5 UC Irvine vs. #6 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
48. "Cougars fall at home to UC Irvine". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-03-27.
49. "#5 UC Irvine vs. #6 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
50. "Cougars drop consecutive matches to Irvine". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-03-28.
51. "Underwood shines in Cougar win at CSUN". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
52. "Cougars sweep Matadors for second-straight night". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
53. "#1 Hawaiʻi vs. #6 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
54. "Cougars upset No. 1 Hawai'i at home". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
55. "#1 Hawaiʻi vs. #6 BYU". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
56. "BYU volleyball team finishes off regular season with a thrilling five-set win over No. 1-ranked Hawaii". Deseret News. Retrieved 2015-04-19.