HONOLULU, Hawaii — The BYU men's volleyball team returned to the top of the NCAA men's volleyball world with a come-from-behind victory over Long Beach State in the championship game Saturday, May 8.

Photo by Jaren Wilkey

BYU athletes celebrate with national championship trophy after defeating Long Beach State. The Cougars were ranked No. 1 most of the season.

Trailing 10-6 in the fifth and deciding game in the Stan Sheriff Center here, the Cougars rallied to win their second national title in the past four years. They won the match 15-30, 30-18, 20-30, 32-30, 19-17.

"Obviously, it's a great thrill to be part of a national championship," said BYU coach Tom Peterson during a Church News telephone interview from Hawaii. He and his wife remained there for a few days to vacation and savor the championship.

"Even more special is the way that we did it," the coach continued. "An improbable comeback. We didn't execute well, but we didn't give up. . . . We had a lot of heart to come back."

Peterson became the first men's volleyball coach to win an NCAA national championship at two different schools, having led Penn State to the 1994 title. But he wasn't taking credit for the BYU win.

"Credit the players for something very special this year," he said. "We won our matches this year mostly because we are a team. . . . They're great, great guys; a mature team."

He said it was noteworthy that American Volleyball Coaches Association named BYU setter Carlos Moreno as the Division I-II National Player of the Year, but added that he and Moreno both considered it a team award. Peterson said Moreno didn't have to look to set the ball for certain stars, but could "set anybody on the team. We have all the options."

The BYU team won with a mix of U.S. and international players, many of them returned missionaries.

"BYU is a very special place," said Peterson who, with his wife, Sheryl, was just released as nursery leader in the Grandview 10th Ward, Provo Utah Grandview Stake, so she could accept a calling in the ward Primary presidency.

Peterson, a BYU graduate now in his second season as head coach, said, "It's a privilege to be at BYU. These young men are special."

He said there are "shady things" happening in athletics these days, but for his team this season, some great things have happened relating to the Church and BYU. "It's been something very special in all ways, spiritually as well as winning."

In one of those wins, the semifinal match in Hawaii on Thursday night, the Cougars avenged last season's loss in the championship game by downing the Lewis Flyers in three games.

BYU was ranked No. 1 much of the season and was the top seed in the tournament. The Cougars finished with a 29-4 record.

E-mail to ghill@desnews.com