Weekly Release #3 - Cougars to Host BYU Mizuno Classic

BYU to Make Home Debut Against Ohio State, Rice and No. 8 Penn State

PROVO -- After two consecutive weeks on the road to open its season, the BYU women's volleyball team is home Friday and Saturday to host the BYU Mizuno Classic presented by Courtyard Marriott. Ohio State, Rice and No. 8 Penn State will take part in the two-day tournament.

BYU (4-3) will face Ohio State (3-1) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, and on Saturday the Cougars will take on Rice (6-2) at Noon and Penn State (7-0) at 7:30 p.m.

"With back-to-back road trips to open the season, we've been a little road weary," BYU coach Karen Lamb said. "But we're excited to be home and play in front of our fans."

Sophomore outside hitter Kim Wilson is coming off a stellar performance against Saint Louis last week, when she recorded a career-high 29 kills. She also posted career highs of five assists and 13 digs, en route to being the only Cougar named to the SMS Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational All-Tournament team.

This week, the Cougars face stiff competition in Ohio State, Rice and Penn State. While Penn State is the No. 8 team in the nation, Ohio State is just outside the top 25, while Rice has enjoyed quality wins over San Diego State and Purdue.

"As the season goes on and as we approach conference play, we have to keep raising our level of play," Lamb said. "That's why we schedule quality opponents each year, and this year is no different.

"In the end that might give us a couple of more losses than we want, but I want to be in the Final Four, and that's what we're building towards."

Other matches in the tournament will see Penn State vs. Rice on Friday at 5 p.m. and Rice vs. Ohio State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The Cougars will have their match against Ohio State televised on KBYU-TV and BYUTV, while their match against Penn State will be available via BYU-Radio. Additionally, both matches will be available online. There will be a video/audio stream of the match against the Buckeyes and an audio stream of the match against the Nittany Lions. Links to these matches will be available via the BYU women's volleyball Web site at www.byucougars.com or or by clicking here.

Weekly Notes:

Week #2 in Review ...

BYU traveled to the SMS Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational in Springfield, Mo., last weekend. The Cougars played four grueling matches in two days. On Friday, BYU opened their slate of matches with a tough five-game loss against Arkansas. In that match, the Cougars lost the first two games, before storming back to win the next two. In the fifth and deciding game, the Ladybacks edged the Cougars 15-13. Later that night, BYU defeated North Texas to even its tournament record.

The next day, sophomore outside hitter Kim Wilson set a career high with 29 kills in a win against Saint Louis. Later that night, in the tournament's final match, the Cougars lost to host Southwest Missouri State in three games.

Wilson Wows

Kim Wilson is fast becoming the Cougars' focus on the offensive side of the ball. She tallied a career-high 29 kills against Saint Louis on Saturday. In the same match against the Bilikens, she set career highs of five service aces and 13 digs. In doing so, she recorded her first career double-double. For the week, Wilson had 66 kills (4.12 kills per game) and hit .301. She was the lone Cougar to be name to the SMS Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational All-Tournament team.

Debut of Another Rightside

Mandi Kiholm, a junior transfer from Utah Valley State College, made her Division I debut against North Texas on Friday. She came in for Carrie Bowers and had a kill on her only attempt to go along with two blocks.

Cougars to Make Home Debut

BYU will make its 2003 home debut this weekend (Sept. 12-13) in the BYU Mizuno Classic presented by Courtyard Marriott. The Cougars have matches slated against Ohio State on Friday at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday against Rice at Noon and against No. 8 Penn State at 7:30 p.m.

On Television, Radio and Online

The Cougars will have their match against Ohio State televised on KBYU-TV and BYUTV, while their match against Penn State will be available via BYU-Radio. Additionally, both matches will be available online. There will be a video/audio stream of the match against the Buckeyes and an audio stream of the match against the Nittany Lions. Links to these matches will be available via the BYU women's volleyball home page at www.byucougars.com

Injury Update

It is relatively quiet on the injury front. Lindsey Kearl had been bothered by recurring back pain, and has been hobbled by a sprained ankle. Erica Lott continues to be bothered by lower back pain and has not practiced for a second consecutive week.

How to find BYU Television:
Dish Network (channel 9403) 
DirecTV PLUS (channel 374) 
Comcast Cable in Utah (channel 21) 
Spanish Fork City Cable in Spanish Fork, UT (channel 40) 
Charter Cable in St. George, UT (channel 78) 
How to find BYU Radio:
St. George Metro area at KWBR 105.7 FM 
Dish Network, extended package (channel 980) 
All-American Cable System in Mesa, Arizona (channel 97)