2014 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team explained

Sport:women's volleyball
Year:2014
Prev Year:2013
Next Year:2015
Team:BYU Cougars
Conference:West Coast Conference
Short Conf:WCC
Record:30–5
Conf Record:16–2
Head Coach:Shawn Olmstead
Hc Year:4th
Asst Coach1:Heather Olmstead
Ac1 Year:4th
Asst Coach2:David Hyte
Ac2 Year:1st
Stadium:Smith Fieldhouse
Champion:WCC regular season Champ
Tourney:NCAA
Tourney Result:National Runner-up

The 2014 BYU Cougars women's volleyball team represented Brigham Young University in the 2014 NCAA Division I women's volleyball season. The Cougars, led by fourth year head coach Shawn Olmstead, played their home games at Smith Fieldhouse. The Cougars were members of the WCC and were picked to win the conference title in the preseason poll.[1]

The Cougars won the WCC Championship in November and were awarded an NCAA Tournament berth. Despite being ranked in the Top 15 all season, BYU wasn't awarded one of the 16 NCAA Seeds for the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, forcing the Cougars to play on the road. BYU proceeded to win the Tucson Area, Seattle Regional, and became the first ever unseeded team to make it to the NCAA Volleyball Championship match. 6 different BYU players were awarded WCC honors, and 3 BYU players were awarded All-American honors. Shawn Olmstead was also named Coach of the year (see Season highlights).

The Cougars were swept by Penn State in the NCAA Championship match, giving the Nittany Lions their seventh national title, but the Cougars NCAA Tournament run gave the Cougars the #3 ranking at the end of the season.[2]

Season highlights

Roster

2014 BYU Cougars Roster[8]
 Defensive Specialist/Libero
  • 1 Jaiden Achermann - Freshman
  • 8 Makenna Santiago - Sophomore
  • 14 Ciara Parker - Junior
  • 17 Tia Withers Welling - Senior

Middle blockers

  • 4 Madeline Graham - Freshman
  • 10 Amy Boswell - Sophomore
  • 16 Whitney Young - Sophomore
 Outside hitters
  • 3 Alohi Robins-Hardy - Freshman
  • 6 Camille Walker - Freshman
  • 7 Hannah Robison - Senior
  • 9 Alexa Gray - Junior
  • 13 Danelle Parady - Freshman
  • 15 Tambre Nobles - Senior
 Opposite hitters

Setters

  • 11 Malery Wahlin - Freshman
  • 20 Camry Godfrey Willardson - Junior
 

Schedule

BYU Radio simulcast all BYUtv games with the BYUtv feed. BYU Radio also carried the NCAA semifinals and finals with Dave Neeley providing the call.

Date
Time
OpponentRankArena
City
(Tournament)
TelevisionScoreAttendanceRecord
(WCC Record)
8/29
5 p.m.
@ West Virginia
  1. 9[9]
WVU Coliseum
Morgantown, WV
(Gold & Blue Player's Challenge)
Mountaineer TV W 3-0
(29-27, 25-20, 25-20)
632[10] 1-0[11]
8/30
9:30 a.m.
vs. IUPUI
  1. 9
WVU Coliseum
Morgantown, WV
(Gold & Blue Player's Challenge)
W 3-0
(25-19, 25-17, 25-18)
218[12] 2-0[13]
8/30
2:30 p.m.
vs. Toledo
  1. 9
WVU Coliseum
Morgantown, WV
(Gold & Blue Player's Challenge)
W 3-0
(25-15, 25-20, 25-14)
2153-0[14]
9/5
7 p.m.
  1. 5 Washington
  1. 10[15]
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
(BYU Invitational)
BYUtvL 3-2
(25-18, 22-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-10)
3,017[16] 3-1[17]
9/6
Noon
UMBC
  1. 10
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
(BYU Invitational)
BYUtvW 3-0
(25-12, 25-15, 25-13)
N/A[18] 4-1[19]
9/6
7 p.m.
Utah Valley
  1. 10
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
(BYU Invitational)
TheW.tvW 3-0
(25-18, 25-18, 25-16)
1,052[20] 5-1[21]
9/12
11 a.m.
vs. #14 Colorado State
  1. 9[22]
Pan American Center
Las Cruces, NM
(UTEP/NMSU Invitational)
L 3-1
(23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 28-26)
1045-2[23]
9/12
7 p.m.
@ UTEP
  1. 9
Memorial Gymnasium
El Paso, TX
(UTEP/NMSU Invitational)
C-USA DigitalW 3-0
(25-17, 25-6, 25-16)
7936-2[24]
9/13
Noon
@ New Mexico State
  1. 9
Pan American Center
Las Cruces, NM
(UTEP/NMSU Invitational)
ESPN3/AltitudeW 3-0
(25-16, 25-19, 25-21)
8017-2[25]
9/16
7 p.m.
@ Idaho State
  1. 12[26]
Reed Gym
Pocatello, ID
Watch Big SkyW 3-0
(25-18, 25-22, 25-14)
869[27] 8-2[28]
9/19
7 p.m.
Utah
  1. 12
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
(Deseret First Duel)
BYUtvW 3-0
(25-18, 25-16, 25-7)
3,814[29] 9-2[30]
9/25
7 p.m.
  1. 11[31]
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-0
(25-22, 25-17, 25-13)
1,477[32] 10-2
(1-0)[33]
9/27
1 p.m.
  1. 11
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-0
(25-16, 25-22, 25-21)
1,104[34] 11-2
(2-0)[35]
9/30
7 p.m.
  1. 10[36]
Firestone Fieldhouse
Malibu, CA
ESPNUW 3-0
(25-17, 25-21, 25-20)
823[37] 12-2
(3-0)[38]
10/2
7 p.m.
  1. 10
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-1
(25-18, 25-18, 23-25, 25-11)
1,134[39] 13-2
(4-0)[40]
10/4
8 p.m.
  1. 10
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-0
(25-10, 25-15, 25-18)
1,386[41] 14-2
(5-0)[42]
10/9
8 p.m.
  1. 10[43]
Alex G. Spanos Center
Stockton, CA
TheW.tvW 3-1
(20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-17)
745[44] 15-2
(6-0)[45]
10/11
2 p.m.
  1. 10
McKeon Pavilion
Moraga, CA
TheW.tvW 3-1
(25-12, 23-25, 27-25, 25-14)
323[46] 16-2
(7-0)[47]
10/17
8 p.m.
  1. 9[48]
Jenny Craig Pavilion
San Diego, CA
TheW.tvL 3-2
(25-18, 22-25, 17-25, 25-20, 15-8)
876[49] 16-3
(7-1)[50]
10/23
7 p.m.
  1. 12[51]
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
TheW.tvW 3-0
(25-19, 25-9, 25-23)
1,064[52] 17-3
(8-1)[53]
10/25
1 p.m.
  • Pepperdine
  1. 12
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-1
(25-10, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17)
1,286[54] 18-3
(9-1)[55]
10/30
7 p.m.
  • @ Santa Clara
  1. 11[56]
Leavey Center
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara PortalL 3-0
(25-14, 25-21, 25-15)
300[57] 18-4
(9-2)[58]
11/1
2 p.m.
  • @ San Francisco
  1. 11
War Memorial Gymnasium
San Francisco, CA
TheW.tvW 3-0
(25-20, 26-24, 25-14)
233[59] 19-4
(10-2)
11/6
7 p.m.
  • Saint Mary's
  1. 14[60]
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-0
(25-15, 25-15, 25-13)
1,296[61] 20-4
(11-2)[62]
11/8
1 p.m.
  • Pacific
  1. 14
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-0
(25-21, 27-25, 26-24)
1,487[63] 21-4
(12-2)[64]
11/14
7:30 p.m.
  • San Diego
  1. 13[65]
Smith Fieldhouse
Provo, UT
BYUtvW 3-1
(25-13, 25-15, 21-25, 25-15)
2,298[66] 22-4
(13-2)[67]
11/20
8 p.m.
  • @ Portland
  1. 12[68]
Chiles Center
Portland, OR
Portland PortalW 3-0
(25-14, 25-19, 25-21)
390[69] 23-4
(14-2)[70]
11/22
1 p.m.
  • @ Gonzaga
  1. 12
Charlotte Y. Martin Centre
Spokane, WA
TheW.tvW 3-2
(21-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-21, 15-10)
823[71] 24-4
(15-2)[72]
11/25
8 p.m.
  • @ Loyola Marymount
  1. 12[73]
Gersten Pavilion
Los Angeles, CA
TheW.tvW 3-1
(30-28, 25-12, 23-25, 25-21)
526[74] 25-4
(16-2)[75]
12/4
4 p.m.
y-vs. Seton Hall
  1. 12
McKale Center
Tucson, AZ
(NCAA 1st Round)
P12 DigitalW 3-0
(25-16, 25-18, 25-17)
2,001[76] 26-4[77]
12/5
5:30 p.m.
y-@ #14 Arizona
  1. 12
McKale Center
Tucson, AZ
(NCAA 2nd Round)
P12 DigitalW 3-1
(22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-23)
1,515[78] 27-4[79]
12/12
5 p.m.
y-vs. #8 Florida State
  1. 12
Alaska Airlines Arena
Seattle, WA
(NCAA regional semifinal)
ESPN3W 3-1
(25-20, 25-19, 19-25, 26-24)
6,789[80] 28-4[81]
12/13
9:30 p.m.
y-vs. #11 Nebraska
  1. 12
Alaska Airlines Arena
Seattle, WA
(NCAA Regional final)
ESPNUW 3-0
(25-21, 25-20, 25-21)
4,885[82] 29-4[83]
12/18
5 p.m.
y-vs. #6 Texas
  1. 12
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Oklahoma City, OK
(NCAA Semifinal)
ESPN2W 3-1
(25-23, 25-16, 17-25, 26-24)
9,824[84] 30-4[85]
12/20
5:30 p.m.
y-vs. #4 Penn State
  1. 12
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Oklahoma City, OK
(NCAA Final)
ESPN2L 0-3
(21-25, 24-26, 14-25)
11,018[86] 30-5[87]

*-Indicates Conference Opponent

y-Indicates NCAA Playoffs

Times listed are Mountain Time Zone.

Announcers for televised games

See also

See also: 2014 BYU Cougars football team, 2014–15 BYU Cougars men's basketball team, 2014–15 BYU Cougars women's basketball team and 2014 BYU Cougars women's soccer team.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: West Coast Conference Announces 2014 Volleyball Preseason Poll and All-WCC Team. Campus Insiders . 2014-08-25.
  2. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Final Poll: December 22, 2014. 2014-12-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20141222222719/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-12-22-14di/. 2014-12-22. dead.
  3. Web site: BYU women's volleyball takes home WCC honors, starts NCAA Tournament Thursday . 4 December 2014 . . 2014-12-04.
  4. Web site: Cougars beat Nebraska, reach Final Four. . 2014-12-14.
  5. Web site: Three Cougars receive All-America accolades. Deseret News. 2014-12-17.
  6. News: Shawn Olmstead named AVCA coach of the year. Salt Lake Tribune. 2014-12-18.
  7. Web site: BYU has OKC looking like Cinderella City again. The Oklahoman. 2014-12-18.
  8. Web site: BYU 2014 Roster. 2022-10-01.
  9. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Preseason Poll: August 11, 2014. 2014-08-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20140815192451/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-8-11-14di/. 2014-08-15. dead.
  10. Web site:
    1. 9 BYU @ West Virginia
    . Stat Broadcast . 2014-08-29.
  11. Web site: Balanced blocking leads Cougars to season-opening victory at West Virginia. . 2014-08-29.
  12. Web site:
    1. 9 BYU vs. IUPUI
    . Stat Broadcast . 2014-08-30.
  13. Web site: Hamson leads No. 9 BYU past IUPUI. . 2014-08-30.
  14. Web site: No. 9 Cougars handle Toledo to win tournament title. Deseret News. 2014-08-30.
  15. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #1 Poll: September 1, 2014. 2014-09-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20140904001817/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-9-1-14di/. 2014-09-04. dead.
  16. Web site:
    1. 5 Washington @ #10 BYU
    . Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-05.
  17. Web site: Cougars lose in five-set thriller to Washington at home. Deseret News. 2014-09-05.
  18. Web site: UMBC @ #10 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-06.
  19. Web site: Women's team beats UMBC in straight sets. . 2014-09-06.
  20. Web site: Utah Valley @ #10 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-06.
  21. Web site: Hamson leads No. 10 Cougars in sweep of UVU. . 2014-09-06.
  22. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #2 Poll: September 8, 2014. 2014-09-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20140909031135/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-9-8-14di/. 2014-09-09. dead.
  23. Web site: No. 9 Cougars upset by No. 14 Colorado State on neutral court. . 2014-09-12.
  24. Web site: Gray and No. 9 Cougars cruise past UTEP. . 2014-09-12.
  25. Web site: No. 9 BYU rolls past Aggies with record-setting block performance. . 2014-09-13.
  26. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #3 Poll: September 15, 2014. 2014-09-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20140918043011/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-9-15-14di/. 2014-09-18. dead.
  27. Web site:
    1. 12 BYU @ Idaho State
    . Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-16.
  28. Web site: No. 12 BYU downs Idaho State in straight sets. 16 September 2014. . 2014-09-17.
  29. Web site: Utah @ #12 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-19.
  30. Web site: Cougars rout Utes in Deseret First Duel. . 2014-09-19.
  31. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #4 Poll: September 22, 2014. 2014-09-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20140924060059/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-9-22-14di/. 2014-09-24. dead.
  32. Web site: Gonzaga @ #11 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-25.
  33. Web site: BYU sweeps Gonzaga in first WCC game. 25 September 2014. . 2014-09-25.
  34. Web site: Portland @ #11 BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-27.
  35. Web site: Jennifer Hamson leads No. 11 Cougars to a sweep of Portland. 27 September 2014. . 2014-09-27.
  36. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #5 Poll: September 29, 2014. 2014-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20141001074154/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-9-29-14di/. 2014-10-01. dead.
  37. Web site: BYU @ Pepperdine. Stat Broadcast . 2014-09-30.
  38. Web site: Gray leads No. 10 Cougars past Pepperdine in three. 30 September 2014. . 2014-09-30.
  39. Web site: San Francisco @ BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-02.
  40. Web site: Young blocks her way into record books as BYU tops USF in four. 2 October 2014. . 2014-10-02.
  41. Web site: Santa Clara @ BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-04.
  42. Web site: Team effort leads No. 10 Cougars over Santa Clara. . 2014-10-04.
  43. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #6 Poll: October 6, 2014. 2014-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20141008084622/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-10-6-14di/. 2014-10-08. dead.
  44. Web site: BYU @ Pacific. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-09.
  45. Web site: BYU women's volleyball fights back to defeat Pacific 3-1. The Daily Universe. 2014-10-09.
  46. Web site: BYU @ Saint Mary's. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-11.
  47. Web site: Season-high kills for Gray lift No. 10 BYU over Saint Mary's. 11 October 2014. Deseret News. 2014-10-11.
  48. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #7 Poll: October 13, 2014. 2014-10-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20141015145248/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-10-13-14di/. 2014-10-15. dead.
  49. Web site: BYU @ San Diego. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-17.
  50. Web site: No. 9 BYU falls short in five-set thriller at San Diego. 17 October 2014. Deseret News. 2014-10-17.
  51. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #8 Poll: October 20, 2014. 2014-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20141022182326/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-10-20-14di/. 2014-10-22. dead.
  52. Web site: Loyola Marymount @ BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-23.
  53. Web site: Cougars sweep Lions, Parker becomes BYU's all-time leader in digs in the rally-scoring era. 23 October 2014. Deseret News. 2014-10-23.
  54. Web site: Pepperdine @ BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-25.
  55. Web site: No. 12 BYU holds off Pepperdine in win at home. 25 October 2014. Deseret News. 2014-10-25.
  56. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #9 Poll: October 27, 2014. 2014-10-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20141028182954/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-10-27-14di/. 2014-10-28. dead.
  57. Web site: BYU @ Santa Clara. Stat Broadcast . 2014-10-30.
  58. Web site: BYU swept by Santa Clara, bounces back to defeat San Francisco. 3 November 2014. The Universe. 2014-11-03.
  59. Web site: BYU @ San Francisco. Stat Broadcast . 2014-11-01.
  60. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #10 Poll: November 3, 2014. 2014-11-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20141106150151/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-11-3-14di/. 2014-11-06. dead.
  61. Web site: Saint Mary's @ BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-11-06.
  62. Web site: Gray leads No. 14 BYU in sweep of Saint Mary's. 6 November 2014. Deseret News. 2014-11-06.
  63. Web site: Pacific @ BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-11-08.
  64. Web site: Nationally-ranked Cougars sweep Pacific in second-to-last home match. 9 November 2014. Deseret News. 2014-11-09.
  65. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #11 Poll: November 10, 2014. 2014-11-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20141112224911/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-11-10-14di/. November 12, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  66. Web site: San Diego @ BYU. Stat Broadcast . 2014-11-14.
  67. Web site: Boswell's record-setting night helps BYU claim WCC title. 14 November 2014. Deseret News. 2014-11-14.
  68. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #12 Poll: November 17, 2014. 2014-11-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20141119182615/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-11-17-14di/. November 19, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  69. Web site: BYU @ Portland. Stat Broadcast . 2014-11-20.
  70. Web site: Gray and No. 12 BYU clinch outright WCC title in sweep of Portland. 20 November 2014. Deseret News. 2014-11-20.
  71. Web site: BYU @ Gonzaga. Stat Broadcast . 2014-11-22.
  72. Web site: Gray and No. 12 Cougars beat Gonzaga in come-from-behind thriller. 22 November 2014. Deseret News. 2014-11-22.
  73. Web site: AVCA Division I Coaches Week #13 Poll: November 24, 2014. 2014-11-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20141126183003/http://www.avca.org/divisions/division-one-women/poll-11-24-14di/. November 26, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  74. Web site: BYU @ Loyola Marymount. Stat Broadcast . 2014-11-25.
  75. Web site: Hamson and No. 12 BYU storm past LMU to end regular season. 25 November 2014. Deseret News. 2014-11-25.
  76. Web site: BYU vs. Seton Hall. Stat Broadcast . 2014-12-04.
  77. Web site: Hamson leads No. 12 BYU past Seton Hall in first round of NCAA tournament. 4 December 2014. Deseret News. 2014-12-04.
  78. Web site: BYU @ Arizona. Stat Broadcast . 2014-12-05.
  79. Web site: Hamson helps Cougars past Arizona for third-straight Sweet 16. 5 December 2014. Deseret News. 2014-12-05.
  80. Web site: BYU vs. Florida State. Stat Broadcast . 2014-12-12.
  81. Web site: Hamson and BYU rally past Florida State for Elite 8 berth. 12 December 2014. Deseret News. 2014-12-12.
  82. Web site: BYU vs. Nebraska. Stat Broadcast . 2014-12-13.
  83. Web site: BYU women's volleyball advances to the final four with a straight set win over Nebraska. 13 December 2014. Deseret News. 2014-12-13.
  84. Web site: BYU vs. Texas. Stat Broadcast . 2014-12-18.
  85. Web site: Hamson and Gray step up big to get BYU past Texas and into the NCAA championship game. 18 December 2014. Deseret News. 2014-12-18.
  86. Web site: BYU vs. Penn State. Stat Broadcast . 2014-12-20.
  87. Web site: Penn State sweeps BYU for a record seventh women's volleyball championship. 20 December 2014. Deseret News. 2014-12-20.