Men's Volleyball to be Honored Once Again

PROVO -- The BYU men's volleyball team will have the honor of lighting the Y this Saturday prior to the BYU vs. USC football game.

"Every year we try to select individuals and groups that have directly impacted the Athletic Department in a significant way," associate athletic director Brian Santiago said. "We felt that honoring Tom Peterson and the men's volleyball team in front of a capacity crowd at LaVell Edwards Stadium was one way to give them extra recognition."

The 2004 team had one of the best seasons in BYU men's volleyball history. The Cougars had a school record 21-match win streak, won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation regular season and conference championships and won the NCAA championship.

Despite trailing practically the whole NCAA championship match, the players were able to stick together and comeback to defeat Long Beach State for the championship. BYU was down 10-6 in the fifth and final game and faced two Long Beach match points before eventually winning 19-17.

"Their comeback to win the national championship last year was one of the greatest comebacks ever," Santiago said.

This is not the first time the team has been recognized for their accomplishments. In April, the team received the male team of the year award at the 2004 Y Awards gala. Then in May, congressman Chris Cannon (R-UT) introduced a resolution honoring the team for winning the national championship. Along with lighting the Y Saturday, the Multiple Sclerosis Society will honor the team Thursday at their annual Dinner of Champions.

"It never gets old," Peterson said. "It's a great privilege to be recognized for an athletic accomplishment. I'm very proud of our players for what they do on the court and especially for what they do off the court."

Other BYU greats who have lit the Y include: Olympian Tiffany Lott Hogan, four-time Olympian Frankie Fredericks, Master's champion Mike Weir, NFL MVP Steve Young and former BYU football coach LaVell Edwards.