As in 2021, BYU’s season has been uneventful with NCAA Tournament games in Pittsburgh. Just like then, the No. 7-seeded Cougars left Steel City disappointed to see their postseason hopes dashed, this time to No. 2-seeded Pittsburgh as he lost 3-0.
BYU couldn’t keep up with the pits as the Panthers won their third straight sweep and their 18th sweep. The Cougars lost by a set score of 25-21, 25-22, 25-18.
“I’m really proud of our group and the game they played tonight,” said BYU head coach Heather Olmsted. I wish you the best of luck in the competition.”
BYU entered a contest with Pitt hoping to make up for two losses in the school’s last two conferences. The Panthers gave the Cougars their first loss of the season in September, much like they did in the fall of 2021.
Things got worse for BYU Saturday night as the loss ended the Cougars’ season abruptly and Pitt swept Provo School for the first time.
BYU kept things tight in the first set as the two teams were tied for seven different occasions. Pitt’s 4-0 win midway through the set proved pivotal to the Panthers’ Game 1 victory.
Pitt traded blows with the visitors in the second set as it was enough for the Cougars to stay close by until the last minute. BYU scored four straight points to reach 22, but lost the set by the next two points.
In the final set, the Panthers took a 16-6 lead before the Cougars fought back to cut the score to 22-18. From there, Pitt crushed BYU’s hopes with a comeback to complete the match with three straight points.
The Cougars struggled to find answers for pitted right-field hitter Courtney Bazelio. The college senior had a .475 hit rate along with 23 kills.
Junior outside hitter Erin Livingston led the BYU offense with 13 kills. Senior his setter Whitney Bauer finished the night with his team-leading 25 assists.
BYU, for the fourth time this year, found itself on the wrong side of the sweep. This time proved to be the end of that season. The Cougars end the year with his 22-7 record.
“I’m proud of our team, the fight we gave them. I’m really proud of the season we put together,” Olmsted said. “It was a great opportunity to come out and play in Pittsburgh, and I cherish and appreciate the opportunity.”
BYU’s postseason play began Friday afternoon against James Madison. The Cougars used a three-set sweep to pass the Dukes and advance to his third and most important contest with the Panthers in the past two seasons.
Pitt’s victory in an all-time important matchup will see the school become the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in a row, facing No. 3 seed Florida.
