The Cougars’ 4-0 start marks the eighth time in program history that BYU has won four in a row to begin a season.

“Hard-fought game. We knew that it was going to be a battle,” said head coach Lee Cummard. “We faced a little adversity and some foul trouble with some of our regulars, and had to have people step up and carry the load while they were out. Overall, I’m pleased with the toughness of the group today and just the camaraderie amongst our team.”

From the second quarter onward, BYU’s defense imposed its will by holding the Bulldogs to 26 percent from the field and forcing 21 turnovers. The backcourt tandem of Gibb and Hamlin compiled a combined six steals in the defensive effort.The Cougars blew the game open in the third quarter, besting the Bulldogs 21-9 to take a 53-37 lead going into the fourth. BYU has outscored its four opponents 100-43 in the third quarter this season, an average margin of 14.3 points.The Bulldogs led 17-15 after one quarter and scored six straight points to open the second after a Gibb and-one layup. Fresno State, with 7:31 to go in the half, extended its lead to 8, 25-17.

The Cougar defense increased their intensity as the Bulldogs only scored one field goal the rest of the quarter. This led to a 15-3 run to close out the half for BYU, highlighted by Gibb and Hamlin trading buckets before a second buzzer-beating three was knocked down by Marya Hudgins. Gibb had her fourth assist on the day on the Hudgins triple to bring the halftime score to 32-28.

BYU held Fresno State to 28 percent shooting from the field in the second, amidst its comeback.

The Cougars hit the road for their first trip of the season as they take on the Montana Grizzlies in Missoula on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with tip scheduled for 7 p.m. MT. Fans can also tune in to Jason Shepherd on BYU Radio 107.9 FM, byuradio.org and the BYU Radio App.

Utes come back for reverse sweep

SALT LAKE CITY — No. 23 BYU women’s volleyball lost a five-set match at Utah (25-17, 25-22, 21-25, 21-25, 12-15) in the Huntsman Center on Friday night.

BOX SCORE

The Cougars (18-8, 6-8 Big 12) out-hit the Utes .299 to .268 in the match with two more kills (68-66), but were out-blocked by Utah (14-8) and had four fewer aces (7-3).

BYU had three hitters finish in double figures, led by Suli Davis’ career-high 28 kills. Claire Little Chambers (18 kills, 11 digs) posted her third-straight double-double and Brielle Kemavor added 11 kills.

Alex Bower finished with 53 assists. Lulu Uluave had 15 digs and Elli Mortensen had 10. Davis was a dig shy of a double-double of her own.

After winning the first two sets in strong fashion, the Cougars couldn’t hold off a comeback from the homestanding Utes, who won Set 3 and fashioned a five-point run at the end of Set 4 to force a fifth set.

The Cougars got down 2-0 in Set 5 and were playing catch-up through the media timeout, where they trailed 8-5. After a Ute service error, BYU hit into consecutive blocks and took a timeout down 10-6.

Little Chambers scored through the block, but two Utah kills made it 12-7, where the Cougars called their second timeout. Kemavor and Little Chambers each had kills, the Cougars’ first consecutive points in the set, but the Utes earned match point a play later.

BYU fought off the end twice on a Bower-Kemavor double block and a Kemavor kill, forcing a Utah timeout. The Cougars fought off match point one more time, but a Ute kill off the block sealed the reverse sweep, 15-12.

BYU will begin a three-match homestead next week, welcoming both Arizona and No. 13 Kansas to the Smith Fieldhouse on Wednesday and Friday night on ESPN+.