The Cougars (11-6, 4-3 Big 12) also received eight kills from Kjersti Strong, six by Brielle Kemavor and five from Kate Prior as Alex Bower picked up her eighth double-double of the year, recording 35 assists and 13 digs.

Hannah Billeter tallied 13 digs of her own, while Lulu Uluave posted a career-high 20. Kemavor led the way with five total blocks, with Little recording four. Both Billeter and Uluave had two aces each.

BYU hits .301 with just eight attack errors on the night compared to Iowa State’s .201, out-blocking the Cyclones, seven to two. ISU recorded four more digs (66 to 62) and aces (11 to seven) than the Cougars, but had 26 attack errors in the contest.

Both teams traded points in the early going of Set 1, but a 4-0 Iowa State run, including two service aces, had BYU call a timeout trailing 8-4. Kills by Elli Mortensen, Brielle Kemavor, Claire Little and Kjersti Strong got the Cougars within one, at 16-15, Cyclones.

A pair of Mortensen kills tied the set at 17 before a Hannah Billeter ace put BYU ahead 18-17, forcing an ISU timeout. Another Billeter ace, quick hitter for Strong and Little-Strong double block made it 22-18, and Iowa State took its second timeout.

An Alex Bower dump kill and Little-Kemavor block gave BYU set point, and Little would convert off the block a play later, earning the Cougars a 25-20 opening set win.

Facing a 3-0 deficit for the second straight set, a trio of kills by Little tied Set 2 at four. Iowa State took six of the next 10 points, however, to lead 11-7 as BYU took its first timeout.

The Cougars got a dump kill by Bower and tip kill from Strong but found themselves down 15-10 and called their second timeout. A pair of 3-0 BYU runs had it within two, at 19-17, and the Cyclones called a timeout.

ISU reeled off four-straight coming out of the timeout and would ultimately take the set to knot the match at one set apiece, 25-19.

The Cougars found themselves trailing for a third set in a row before Bower’s third dump kill of the night was followed up by a quick hitter for Kemavor, tying Set 3 at four. Three Kate Prior kills from the right side and a service ace by Macy Short, her first of the season, paced BYU to a 15-12 advantage at the media timeout.

A 3-0 run by the Cougars was answered with three-straight from Iowa State, and BYU took a timeout leading 18-16. Two kills by Strong and another from Little made It 23-18, but a 6-0 Cyclone run, spanning the Cougars’ second timeout gave Iowa State set point at 24-23.

BYU responded with back-to-back Kate Prior kills, one cross-court and the other through the block to earn its own set point, finishing it off with a Mortensen kill through the block, 26-24.

A Kemavor kill and aces by both Little and Lulu Uluave helped the Cougars double up on the Cyclones at 8-4 in Set 4, but five in a row by ISU gave it a 9-8 lead, and BYU took its first timeout.

The Cougars scored three-straight to take an 11-9 advantage, remaining in front on kills by Mortensen and Little, and Short’s second ace, with ISU taking a timeout trailing 16-13.

With a quick hitter for Kemavor and a Prior-Kemavor block, the Cougars led 19-14, and forced Iowa State’s second timeout. A Kemavor-Mortensen double block capped off a 5-0 BYU run, and the Cougars would close the set on a 3-0 run, winning it on an Uluave ace, 25-15.

BYU will return to Provo for a Top 25 matchup with archrival and 20th-ranked Utah on Saturday. The 7 p.m. MDT match will be streamed on ESPN+.

BYU football’s Kalani Sitake named to midseason watch list

BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake was today named to the 2024 Dodd Trophy Midseason Watch List by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc.

Named after legendary Georgia Tech coach Bobby Dodd, the Dodd Trophy was established in 1976 to honor the FBS football coach whose program represents the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity–the three pillars of Dodd’s coaching philosophy.

In addition to being named to the watch list for the Dodd Trophy, Sitake was previously selected as a candidate for the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award and was named Midseason Big 12 Coach of the Year by College Football Network.

In his ninth year at BYU and 24th overall season as a college football coach, Sitake leads the program he once played for under legendary College Football Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards. A former Cougar running back (1994, 1997-2000), Sitake guided BYU to a 61-41 overall record during his first eight seasons (2016-23) at the helm and has led the Cougars to a 6-0 start and No. 13 national ranking in 2024.

Cougar senior Tyler Batty named to Lombardi watch list

The Rotary Club of Houston today named BYU defensive end Tyler Batty to the final watchlist for the 2024 Rotary Lombardi Award.

Established in 1970, the Rotary Lombardi Award is presented annually to the college football offensive lineman, defensive lineman or linebacker who in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Fame Head Coach Vince Lombardi.

Prior to the 2024 season, Batty received a variety of preseason honors and was named to several award watchlists. He was one of 30 players to be selected to the Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team by media representatives who cover the league.

The 6-5, 275-pound senior from Payson, Utah, was recently named to the College Football Network Midseason 2024 All-Big 12 Second Team. Batty was also named preseason All-Big 12 First Team by Athlon Sports, Phil Steele and College Football Network. In addition, he was selected to the 2024 watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the annual East-West Shrine Bowl.

Through six games in 2024, Batty is top-three statistically on the team in tackles, sacks, quarterback hurries and interceptions.

To be considered for the Rotary Lombardi Award, a player must play for a FBS college football team and be eligible to participate in the current season. The candidate must be a down lineman either on offense or defense; or be a linebacker setting up no further than five yards from the line of scrimmage.

The winner of the 2024 Rotary Lombardi Award will be honored at a dinner that will take place on Dec. 11, 2024.