The BYU women’s volleyball team performed well in its first season of Big 12 Conference play, finishing in third place, winning 25 matches and qualifying for a 12th straight NCAA tournament.
But the maiden voyage ended on Dec. 2 with a loss to No. 5-seed Arizona State University as the Sun Devils swept No. 4-seed BYU, 25-20, 25-21 and 25-21 in the NCAA tournament’s second round.
The loss ended the Cougars’ year with an overall record of 25-7 and, for the second straight year, in the NCAA’s second round.
Despite the loss, BYU head coach Heather Olmstead was “super proud” of her team. She praised its leadership and overall effort.
BYU’s Erin Livingston hits toward Arizona State University in a second-round NCAA tournament women’s volleyball match at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah, on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
“I’m proud of Erin [Livingston] and I’m proud of Whitney [Bower] for the whole season and what they’ve done,” Olmstead said in a news release. “Their leadership, the way they’ve led this group, just through the inaugural Big 12 season, the highs and the lows that we had. I’m proud of our group for sticking together.”
Senior setter Whitney Bower and senior outside hitter Erin Livingston were two of four BYU women’s volleyball players named to All-Big 12 teams by the conference. The two seniors were joined by graduate middle blocker Whitney McEwan-Llarenas, with all three earning All-Big 12 first-team honors. Freshman middle blocker Mia Lee was also named to the conference All-Rookie team.
Bower, Livingston, McEwan-Llarnenas and fellow senior Kamaile Hiapo were also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association Southwest All-Region Team on Dec 5.
BYU’s Whitney Bower dives for the ball while playing Weber State in the first round of the 2023 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. BYU won 3-0.
Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
BYU’s Whitney McEwan-Llarenas and Brielle Kemavor embrace after losing to Arizona State in a second-round NCAA women’s volleyball match at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.
Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
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