Cougars to Host UCLA

PROVO -- The third-ranked BYU Cougars will host the seventh-ranked UCLA Bruins on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in their first home-court conference matches of the season.

The Cougars (3-1, 3-1) and the Bruins (4-3, 1-2) have split their last six matches but the Bruins, who lead the series 21-8 since 1990, have not won in Provo since 1997.

"UCLA is the perennial powerhouse," BYU head coach Tom Peterson said. "It will be a tremendous match against a tremendous team. Playing UCLA in the Fieldhouse is one of the biggest events of the year."

Last week, the Bruins split a pair of MPSF matches, dropping a five-game decision to Long Beach State on Jan. 23 and defeating UC San Diego 3-1 on Jan. 25. BYU played in Stockton against Pacific last week, earning their first loss (2-3) of the season on Jan. 20 and picking up a 3-2 win Jan. 21 to end a five-day, four match road trip.

Last season against UCLA, the Cougars split a pair of conference matches at Pauley Pavilion during their long February road trip.

"We're both good teams," Peterson said. "I think whoever makes the least amount of errors will win. In our matches at Stanford and Pacific that's what it came down to. UCLA will be tough competition."

Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse. Tickets are available for $6 at the door starting an hour and a half before game time or at the Marriott Center Ticket Office, (801)378-BYU1.