Braden Taylor | Posted: 13 Apr 2021 | Updated: 16 Apr 2021

No. 16-seed BYU to face UCLA in second round of NCAA Tournament
BYU vs. UCLA NCAA Tournament Gameday Graphic

PROVO, Utah – After securing the No. 16 seed and a first-round bye, BYU women’s volleyball will face UCLA in the second round of the 2020 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Thursday, April 15 at 9:30 p.m. CDT on ESPN3/WatchESPN App.

BYU Match Notes

BYU Cougars (16-1, 15-1 WCC)

  • This marks BYU’s ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and the seventh time in those nine seasons the Cougars have been one of the 16 seeded teams
  • Under Olmstead, the Cougars have advanced to four Sweet 16s and the 2018 Final Four
  • The Cougars went 15-1 in conference play to claim their seventh WCC title in 10 years since joining the league in 2011
  • BYU enters the tournament ranked in top 10 nationally in three major statistical categories: No. 5 in assists per set (13.56), No. 5 in hitting percentage (.312) and No. 9 in kills per set (14.40)
  • Middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg ranks No. 6 in the NCAA Division I in hitting percentage (.459) and No. 11 in blocks per set (1.52)
  • Sophomore setter Whitney Bower was named WCC Player of the Year and WCC Setter of the Year
  • Bower, senior outside hitter Taylen Ballard-Nixon, Eschenberg and sophomore opposite Kate Grimmer were all named to the All-WCC First Team and the AVCA Pacific South All-Region team
  • Head coach Heather Olmstead received WCC Coach of the Year and Pacific South Region Coach of the Year
  • The Cougars remained No. 14 in the last AVCA national poll before the tournament, marking the 117th consecutive week BYU has been ranked

Series Information – BYU vs. UCLA

  • BYU is 5-24-1 all-time against UCLA since the first meeting in 1972, but only twice in the start of the rally era in 2001 (2004, 2009 – both UCLA wins)
  • The two teams have met 11 times in the postseason (NCAA/AIAW) with the Cougars going 3-8 in those matchups
  • In the five NCAA Tournament meetings between the two programs, BYU is 2-3 against UCLA

UCLA Bruins (15-6, 14-6 Pac-12)

  • UCLA is making its 37th appearance in the NCAA Tournament while boasting a postseason record of 92-33
  • The Bruins swept Rider in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to advance to play BYU in the second round
  • Junior Zoe Fleck was named Pac-12 Conference Libero of the Year
  • Fleck was also one of five Bruins to earn All-Pac-12 honors, joining senior Mac May, junior élan McCall and freshman Iman Ndiaye
  • UCLA entered the week ranked 21st in assists per set (12.97) and 26th in kills per set (13.90)
  • The Bruins are ranked No. 15 in the latest AVCA national poll

Broadcast Information

Tournament Information

  • The NCAA Tournament is being held at the CHI Health Center Convention Center in Omaha, Nebraska
  • The winner of Thursday’s match will face either No. 1-seed Wisconsin, Bowling Green or Weber State
  • First- and second-round attendance will be limited to teams and team guests