BYU sweeps UCLA to claim NCAA volleyball crown
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The Brigham Young University men's volleyball team won the national championship May 5, sweeping perennial powerhouse UCLA in three games.
The victory marked the second time in three years the Cougars have claimed the national crown. A vocal, pro-BYU crowd celebrated with the team following the championship winning point at The Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif.
BYU edged the Bruins in three tightly contested games — 30-26, 30-26, 32-30.
"Before this season started, I said I thought this team could win a national championship," BYU head coach Carl McGown said. "It has been a long season and we've done some great things, but this is the greatest. I can't tell you how proud I am of these guys for setting a goal early on, working hard, sticking to it and winning their second national championship."
Three Cougars were selected to the NCAA All-Tournament team, including MVP Mike Wall, who led BYU with 16 kills, hitting .323 on 31 swings. Hector Lebron and Joaquin Acosta were also selected to the all-tourney team, according to BYU Athletic Media Relations.
Seven members of the BYU team are returned missionaries.
"BYU is the best team in the nation," said legendary UCLA coach Al Scates. "[Cougar] Scott Bunker is the best blocker in the nation. He is better than anyone on the national team right now. . . with Bunker and guys like Joaquin Acosta, this is the best team BYU has ever had."
UCLA has won 18 national volleyball titles.
"I wasn't worried about all their championships," Wall said. "I'm sure that could be intimidating to some teams but we didn't let that get to us. We had beaten them earlier in the season and I knew we could do it again."
Saturday's victory marks the seventh combined NCAA national championship for the Cougars, according to BYU Athletic Media Relations. BYU has claimed national crowns in football, track, golf and twice in both men's volleyball and women's cross country.
