BYU Returns Home to Host Long Beach State

PROVO -- Postseason seeding will be at stake this weekend as No. 3 BYU welcomes No. 9 Long Beach State to the Smith Fieldhouse for a pair of matches on Thursday and Friday evenings. Both matches start at 7 p.m.

The Cougars (16-5, 12-4 MPSF) are currently a game and a half behind second place UC Irvine for the second seed. BYU holds the tie-breaker over UCI by virtue of the total number of games won in the head-to-head matches.

The Cougars will be playing their first matches at home since Feb. 23 and 24. BYU has a 7-1 home record this season. The Cougars have played 13 of their last 17 games on the road.

"It's nice to be back home," BYU co-head coach Ryan Millar said. "It feels like we haven't been home for a long time."

Long Beach comes into the match having lost two in a row, including a five-set heartbreaker against No. 1 Pepperdine. The 49ers have won three in a row against BYU. Long Beach State eliminated the Cougars from the MPSF Tournament.

"These matches will definitely not be easy," Millar said. "Long Beach is a great team. Our guys will be ready and hopefully we can pick up another couple of wins."

Thursday evening's match will be televised by BYU-TV and KBYU.