With an opening set victory, the Cougars (12-0, 0-0 Big 12) tied the eight-longest streak of consecutive sets won in rally-scoring era program history with 20 in a row, also done in 2014 and 2001.

BYU will enter Big 12 play next week undefeated, extending its season-opening streak to 12 wins, which is good for the fifth-best start in program history.

The Cougars hit .192 in the match to the Wolverines’ .131, recording 10 more kills than UVU. Despite being out-blocked by Utah Valley, 17 to 14, BYU had four more digs and one less service error. Both teams had five aces.

Little Chambers’ career match came on a .271 clip. She finished two digs shy of a double-double and also tied her career high with five blocks. Abby Hoybjerg set a career her of her own with seven stuffs.

Suli Davis joined Little Chambers in double figures with 12 kills, while Alex Bower dished out 47 assists and Emma Barbero posted 20 digs, both match highs.

BYU found itself in a hole early in Set 1 after a pair of 3-0 runs by Utah Valley made it 13-9. The Cougars tied things up at 13 with a 4-0 run, highlighted by two Brielle Kemavor-Bower double blocks. A Hoybjerg-Little Chambers double block, Barbero ace and two Little Chambers kills capped off a 5-0 BYU run that spanned a UVU timeout and put the Cougars in front, 20-16. The Wolverines took their second timeout at 23-18, and BYU closed the set on a 3-1 run, with kills by Little Chambers and Sophia Callahan finishing off the first set, 25-19.

The Cougars raced out to an early 4-0 lead in Set 2 on a Bower-Kemavor double block and Elli Mortensen ace. Little Chambers and Hoybjerg combined for another block as BYU doubled up UVU, 12-6.

Utah Valley fought back to a 17-all tie. Three kills by Davis paced the Cougars to a 22-20 lead, but UVU tied things up at 22 and took the final three points of the set to even the match at one set apiece.

A 7-0 BYU run that featured four blocks involving Hoybjerg helped push the Cougars to a 15-9 in Set 3. A 3-0 Wolverine span had UVU within two at 17-15. Kemavor then went on a 3-0 run of her own with two kills and a solo stuff, pushing the Cougars to a 20-15 advantage. BYU weathered another 3-0 Utah Valley stretch before three kills by Little Chambers down the stretch wrapped things up, 25-21, putting the Cougars in front, 2-1.

The Wolverines led 15-13 in Set 4 but two Hannah Billeter aces as well as a Mortensen-Kemavor-Callahan triple block as got BYU in front, 19-15. Three straight by UVU forced BYU to take a timeout ahead by one, and it remained in front until a tie at 22. After a Little Chambers kill, Wolverine errors gave BYU two match points, which Kemavor and Mortensen closed out on a double block, 26-24.

The Cougars have never lost to the Wolverines (22-0) and none of the matches have ever gone to a fifth set.

BYU (12-0 overall, 0-0 Big 12) will open up league play next week, hosting Colorado and Iowa State. The Cougars and Buffaloes are set for a 6 p.m. MDT first serve on Thursday and can be streamed on ESPN+.

Shutout streak ends, UVU men’s soccer ties Santa Clara

Nil Grau scored a header goal in the 7th minute as No. 16 Utah Valley remained unbeaten with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday night at UCCU Stadium.

The Broncos did what no other team has been able to do against the Wolverines, finding the back of the net in the 67th minute, ending a streak of 607 shutout minutes to begin the season for Utah Valley. It was also the first open-play goal the team had allowed in eight games overall.

The tie means the Wolverines have matched the longest unbeaten streak to start a season at seven games, equalling the mark set by the 2024 squad that began the year 5-0-2.

The Wolverines got on the board early in the seventh minute moments after thinking they deserved a penalty. Grau’s initial shot was blocked with an outstretched arm by a Bronco defender behind for a corner. Grau took matters into his own hands, rising highest to nod home Keegan Oyler’s WAC-leading sixth assist.

Jose Luis Martin Montealegre had the last shot of the half, narrowly missing wide right on a long-range effort in the 45th minute.

Utah Valley earned a penalty in the 51st minute, with Grau’s shot catching a Bronco arm once again but this time earning the call. Trevor Walk’s ensuing shot was saved.

The game ground to a halt as the half wore on, as four yellows were brandished in an eight-minute span from the 60th to 68th minutes.

Santa Clara got its equalizer in the 67th minute after Will Wiersdorf was able to cut into the six and beat Kolby Sessions at his five hole. Sessions got the better of Wiersdorf in the 71st minute with his second and final save of the night.

Neither side had a shot on target over the final 29 minutes, but Lewis Knecht had a good look at goal in the 89th minute with a long-range shot that sailed wide left.

Utah Valley will be off for the next two weeks before opening WAC play on the road at Grand Canyon on Oct. 4. That match is slated for 8 p.m. MDT, and will be streamed live on ESPN+.