In volleyball, when your offense isn't clicking, it's called being "out of system."

It means you're not passing well. It means your setter is running wildly around the court, trying to catch up to a poorly passed ball. It means his set is hurried, or too close to the net.

The results of being out of system too much? Usually a loss.

That's what's been happening to the BYU men's volleyball team the past couple of weeks, and the Cougars have dropped three straight matches to UCLA and Long Beach State (twice) on the road. What was once the No. 1 hitting team (percentage) in the nation has dropped to fourth after three straight sub-.300 hitting matches. BYU, which has fallen from the No. 1 ranking to No. 4, will try to get back on track this weekend against 14th-ranked UC Santa Barbara with two matches in the Smith Fieldhouse.

"In simple terms, it's very hard to win on the road in this league," BYU head coach Shawn Patchell said. "We got out-served at UCLA and Long Beach and we were out of system more than we were in system. But the guys have a new resolve to pass better. We need to play with better poise and right now, our weakness is passing."

So this week in practice, BYU has faced a barrage of serves to improve its passing. Even Patchell, a former BYU standout, has gotten into the act.

"My shoulder is worn out," Patchell said. "We've been serving BB's at them."

When BYU is passing well (and in system), the results are more to Patchell's liking. Take, for instance, a two-match sweep of Pepperdine on March 7 and 8, where the Cougars hit .379 and .345. respectively.

"We did not play against UCLA and Long Beach State like we'd been practicing," Patchell said. "We played OK, but we didn't pass well and we need guys to step up. It all starts with the first contact. Our setters are a lot better if we pass well."

In UCSB, BYU faces a team fighting for a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoff spot. UCSB's head coach, Ken Preston, is retiring at the end of this season after 30 years leading the Gauchos program. Patchell said he had just finished watching tape of UCSB in a sweep of USC.

"I've never seen a team play better on video than UCSB played against USC," Patchell said. "It wasn't close. UCSB blew them out. They're a dangerous team."

For BYU, senior middle blocker Russell Holmes continues to have a stellar season and is tied for first in the country in blocks per game (1.60). He's also seventh nationally in hitting percentage (.457). Senior outside hitter Ivan Perez leads the Cougars with 4.45 kills per game, 11th overall.

BYU is two matches behind Long Beach State in the loss column in the MPSF standings and one behind Northridge with six matches still to play. The winner of the regular-season MPSF title will host the league's post-season tournament April 24-26.

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com

No. 14 UCSB (9-12, 6-10) at No. 4 BYU (17-4, 12-4)

When: Tonight and Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Smith Fieldhouse (5,000)

Radio/TV: None

Internet: Live stats at byucougars.com

The Word: BYU leads the overall series 22-15, 13-6 in Provo. ... BYU has won the past four meetings with UCSB.

MPSF Standings (as of Wednesday, March 26)

Long Beach State 14-2 19-3

Northridge 15-3 19-4

BYU 12-4 17-4

UCLA 9-7 14-10

Stanford 9-7 14-7

Pepperdine 9-8 10-8

UC Irvine 7-9 10-12

USC 7-10 10-13

Hawaii 7-11 10-13

UC Santa Barbara 6-10 9-12

UC San Diego 3-13 7-15

Pacific 1-15 4-18

Thursday's match

Long Beach State at UC Irvine, late

Today's matches

Pacific at USC

Stanford at Pepperdine

UCLA at UC San Diego

UC Santa Barbara at BYU

Hope International at Northridge

Saturday's matches

Pacific at Pepperdine

Stanford at USC

UC Irvine at UC San Diego

UC Santa Barbara at BYU