The Cougars got two goals from freshman Sophie Sivulich and a goal and an assist from both junior Ellie Walbruch and sophomore Emma Hamberlin as they dominated the run of play for most of the game.

The Cougars outshot the Thunderbirds 31-8, with 14 shots on frame and four finding the back of the net. BYU had seven corner kicks to SUU’s two, forcing Southern Utah goalkeepers to post 10 saves on the night.

“I thought tonight we moved the ball really well,” Cougar head coach Jennifer Rockwood said. “We’re a lot further ahead than we were at this time last year, and that’s really exciting. I thought we created a lot of goal-scoring opportunities and I thought we did it in a lot of different ways. So it was really exciting and people are just getting better from here.”

In the 14th minute, Cougar center back Izzi Stratton sent a long ball through to Walbruch, who drew two defenders (including the goalkeeper) before dumping it off to Sivulich for an unmarked look for the first goal of the night.

The Thunderbirds countered with an attempt at goal in the 23rd minute. SUU’s Kayleigh Acree fired off a shot from outside the 18 hitting the crossbar before being cleared out by the Cougar backline.

Two minutes later, sophomore Emma Hamberlin dished the ball to Walbruch who sent it into the back of the net for BYU’s second goal of the night.

The Cougars kept up the pressure on the Thunderbirds’ goalkeeper. The 31st minute featured back-to-back attempts on goal by Hamberlin and Halle Dixon.

In the 36th minute, freshman Cassidy Drago pushed the ball ahead to Mia Goettsche who sent it towards the goal for Hamberlin for a tap-in and BYU’s third goal of the night.

The Cougars dominated possession of the ball in the first half, and led in shots 17-3, with 10 being on frame.

The Cougars came out of the locker room strong, increasing their lead five minutes into the half. Freshman Mia Lopez touched a ball ahead to Presley Freeman who gave it to Sivulich for her second goal of the night and BYU’s fourth.

The Thunderbirds answered back in the 78th minute for their first goal of the night. SUU’s Brooklyn Bradley sent it across inside the 18 to Carly Radke who booted it in.

The final minute of the match featured a sliding block at the post by junior defender Ella Rustand to hold BYU’s 4-1 win.

The Cougars will play their second and final exhibition game at South Field against Utah Tech on Saturday at 7 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Former Cougar Slabe tabbed to coach in Major League Volleyball

OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha Supernovas, the world’s leading professional volleyball franchise, have announced that former BYU standout and U.S. Olympic Volleyball gold medalist Luka Slabe as the franchise’s new head coach.

With a distinguished coaching career that includes an Olympic gold medal and three Volleyball Nations League titles, Slabe will lead the franchise into the next era as the Supernovas ramp up to compete in Major League Volleyball, which is set to begin play in January 2026.

“I’m thrilled to join the world’s leading professional volleyball franchise in the Omaha Supernovas,” Slabe said. “I can’t wait to contribute to the organization’s immense success and take on new challenges both on and off court as we work to grow the sport. I’m especially looking forward to connecting with NovasNation and the incredible community that makes volleyball so special in Nebraska, while building on the tremendous team culture and continuing to position us to compete for the MLV Championship.”

Slabe has been a coaching mainstay for USA Volleyball, currently serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s National Team since 2024. Slabe will continue in that role during the Supernovas offseason as he helps lead the U.S. Men into the 2028 L.A. Olympics.

Before a brief three-year stint as head coach for the North Carolina State women’s volleyball program, Slabe was the defensive coordinator and blocking coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

“Having worked alongside Luka during two different Olympic cycles, I know what an exceptional coach Omaha has signed — which also leaves me thrilled that our work toward LA28 will continue,” said Karch Kiraly, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and current head coach of the U.S. men’s national team.

Originally from Ljubljana, Slovenia, Slabe first came to the United States to play for BYU as an outside hitter in the early 2000’s. He aided the Cougars to the 2001 NCAA Division I Men’s National Championships and was part of the 2003 runner-up team two years later. Slabe later rejoined the program as an assistant coach from 2015 to 2017, totaling a 75-16 record with two NCAA runner-up finishes and a national semifinal appearance.

Slabe helped usher in the golden era of women’s volleyball for Team USA as the Americans won the country’s first-ever gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, plus three-straight FIVB Volleyball Nations League titles in 2018, 2019, and 2021. He also carries experience as the head coach for the Slovenia men’s team, where he lifted the team’s world ranking over two years.

Slabe is no stranger to the professional level with seven years of head coaching experience with pro teams across Europe from 2008 to 2015. In that time, Slabe’s teams won six national and international championships alongside six runner-up finishes.

UVU women’s volleyball will play 2025 season at UCCU Center

OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University women’s volleyball will play its 2025 home matches in the UCCU Center as Lockhart Arena undergoes facility upgrades.

The 8,500-seat UCCU Center, home to Utah Valley’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, features six locker rooms, four concession areas and four restrooms. The venue has hosted some of UVU’s largest and most attended events, including the men’s basketball upset of No. 12 BYU and a nationally televised NIT matchup with Cincinnati.

Last year, UVU wrestling set an attendance record when more than 5,000 fans packed the arena to watch No. 3 Oklahoma State.

This will mark the Wolverines’ return to the UCCU Center for women’s volleyball for the first time since the 2016 season, when the team played most of its home matches in the venue.

Utah Valley opens the 2025 season by hosting the Utah Valley Invitational on Aug. 29-30 in the UCCU Center, welcoming Boise State, Montana and Navy. The Wolverines will also host in-state rivals Utah State and No. 19 BYU in September.