No. 9 BYU volleyball uses depth to overwhelm Iowa State for 5th straight win

PROVO — Plenty of the 4,406 visitors to the Smith Fieldhouse to see the ninth-ranked BYU women's volleyball team Friday night knew about star outside hitter Erin Livingston.

The fifth-year senior introduced them to plenty of friends, though.

Elyse Stowell posted 11 kills, two digs and a block assist, and the Cougars had three players with double-digit kills in a 25-16, 25-20, 25-19 win Friday night over Iowa State.

Livingston led all attackers with 12 kills and two digs, and Whitney McEwan-Llarenas supplied 11 kills, a dig, a block and an assist for BYU (18-3, 7-2 Big 12), which hit .438 in the decisive third set of its fifth-straight win.

Whitney Bower totaled 39 assists, three digs, two kills and an ace for the Cougars, who got eight kills from freshman Mia Lee, five kills from Kate Prior, and 11 digs from Kamaile Hiapo.

"It's a tribute to our passing; we passed really well," BYU coach Heather Olmstead said. "When you pass well — and Hannah Billeter, Aria McComber, Mai Mai Hiapo and Brielle Miller all passed well — that allowed Whitney to distribute the ball well. When you've got three players in double-digit kills and another with eight, that's show equal distribution from Whitney Bower and how she set another good night, two nights in a row."

Maya Duckorth had nine kills to lead the Cyclones (13-6, 4-4 Big 12), who got 26 assists from Morgan Brandt and six digs from Faith DeRonde.

Lee and Stowell tied for the set-high four kills, and BYU held the Cyclones to .143 hitting with just eight kills on 21 swings to take the opener, 25-16.

Bower fueled a BYU attack that hit .520 in the first set with 12 assists one night after sweeping Iowa State in the first-ever match between the two new conference foes.

"We've talked a lot about getting opportunities, to make sure you take advantage of it," said Stowell, whose 11 kills are three off her career high. "I think I was in the mindset of doing whatever the team needs, whatever coach needs, and being there for my teammates — but also having a lot of fun. I think that's a really big part of it; this can be a really stressful games and everyone's so good, right? It's just fun to come out and play volleyball with a bunch of my friends."

Stowell continued her run in the second set, putting down four kills as the Cougars went up 2-0. Bower's ace capped a 3-0 spurt that pushed BYU to an 18-11 advantage, Stowell stymied one of Iowa State's run with a kill to go up 21-16, and then forced set point with off her rocket of a right arm en route to the 25-20 win on McEwan-Llarenas' final touch.

The 6-foot-2 junior from Yorba Linda, California, hit .700 through the first two sets with eight kills on 10 swings and just one error to propel a balanced BYU attack. Her 11 kills are just the second time this season and sixth time in Stowell's BYU career that she has recorded double-digit kills.

"Elyse was ready for her moment," Olmstead said. "I thought she did a really great job. She chose good, smart shots, and Whitney gave her some seams in the block that Elyse took advantage of. She's been practicing hard, waiting her time, and I'm happy for her to get in and help us get this win."

But a hitter is only as good as her setter, Stowell was quick to add.

"It's all Whitney Bower, she was distributing it so perfectly," she said. "It's all her, she's such an amazing setter, and she makes it easy for me. She's a beast."

After four-straight home matches, the Cougars hit the road again next Thursday and Friday to face Kansas State. First serve from Morgan Family Arena in Manhattan, Kansas is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MDT on ESPN+.

BYU is back home Friday, Nov. 3 to host fellow Big 12 newcomer Cincinnati.

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