Box Score

PROVO, Utah--The Gonzaga University volleyball squad played yet another ranked team Thursday night, pushing the No. 13 BYU Cougars in the first set but falling 3-0 at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah.

The Zags took an early lead in the contest, getting the first point of the match off the arm of senior Savannah Blinn and controlling the action for much of the first set. They won three straight points from kills by junior McKayla Ferris and senior Jordan Gasser along with a BYU error for a 7-4 lead. They then extended that by winning four of five points for an 11-6 advantage. BYU responded by coming within one point, but the Zags pulled out ahead again, taking three-point leads at 15-12, 17-14, and 18-15. Eventually, the Cougars tied the match at 20 and 21, and they took the final five points of the frame to take an early match lead at 25-21.

BYU took an early four-point lead in the second set, winning four straight points to go up 7-3. The Zags cut into that deficit numerous times, coming within one at 9-8 with back-to-back kills from Gasser and Blinn, and junior Emmy Allen pounded down a point to bring GU within two at 11-9. After that, the Cougars went on a 5-1 run to go up 16-10 in the set. A GU timeout and kill from sophomore Kaylie Loewen halted that run, and the Zags drew back within four on another kill from Gasser later on in the frame, but the Cougars kept up their play to take the set 25-16.

In the third set, the Cougars won five consecutive points to take a 7-2 lead early in the frame. Gonzaga wasn't able to cut into that deficit much, coming within four in three different instances - the latest coming at 14-10 - but not stringing together any points to make a sizeable dent. Despite Loewen coming up with three of the final five points of the match, the Zags fell 25-16 in the third set and three sets to zero in the contest.

Bulldog Bites

• It took the top blocking team in the West Coast Conference to snap Gonzaga's blocking streak as the Cougars won the competition at the net 7.0 to 3.0. That breaks the Bulldogs' streak of outblocking each of their last nine opponents and not getting outblocked themselves in 13 matches. Loewen was involved in all three of Gonzaga's blocks while Ferris pitched in with two and Blinn one.
• Gasser had a strong night on the attack, pounding home 10 kills on 17 attacks and two errors for a .471 hitting percentage. It's her seventh consecutive match with double-digit kills, and she's now hit .300 or better eight times this season and in each of the last three games. Her .233 attack percentage on the season is on pace to be a career high.
• Senior Lauren Joseph made her way back into the normal rotation versus Pepperdine Oct. 10, and at BYU she posted her highest assist total in over a month. The setter dished out 18 assists Thursday night, leading the Zags and equaling her output Sept. 13 at Arizona State. She's hit the 18-assist mark in seven of her 17 matches on the year.
• Gonzaga has now played five ranked teams this season with all but one of them holding top-17 rankings on the day of the contest. Washington and Arizona State were both ranked No. 10 when Gonzaga faced them, Kansas was No. 17, and BYU is currently No. 13. The Zags' lone win over a ranked squad this year came against then-No. 23 Pacific on Sept. 24.
• Blinn led Gonzaga with 11 kills, hitting double digits in the category for the ninth match in a row. She's now posted at least 10 kills in 17 matches this season.

Zag Speak:

Gonzaga head coach Dave Gantt

• "We started well, but leading 21-20 in the first set we gave up a five point run to lose that set and never really recovered. Give BYU credit because they were quite consistent."
• "I thought Jordan Gasser had a really nice effort tonight. She had a very solid performance in all three sets."

Next Up:

Gonzaga (12-8, 3-4 WCC) will wrap up the brief road trip Saturday, Oct. 17 with a match at the University of San Diego. The contest against the Toreros will begin at 12:00 p.m. at Jenny Craig Pavilion in San Diego.