Set One
Prior started the set off strong for BYU with three early kills as the Cougars and Sun Devils battled to a tie at nine apiece. Arizona State then rode consecutive aces to a 12-9 lead that proved the difference in the set.
The Cougars continued to fight with late-set kills from Prior and Livingston, but the Sun Devils found a way to counter each of BYU’s momentum-stoking sequences. Prior slammed home her fifth kill of the set to put the Cougars within striking distance down 23-20, but Arizona State held on for the 25-20 win.
The Sun Devils outhit BYU .290 to .118 with 14 kills to the Cougars’ 12. Prior led BYU in the opening set with five kills and two block assists while hitting at .333. Livingston added three kills while Lee put up a kill and three block assists.
Set Two
Arizona State opened the set on a 5-1 run and continued to keep BYU off its groove throughout. The Sun Devils used an ace and BYU error to propel a 6-0 run and go up 19-10.
The Cougars climbed back into the set with three-straight kills that cut Arizona State’s lead to 22-16. Kills from Lee and Livingston contributed to one more 3-0 run as BYU kept the set alive down 24-20. Arizona State finished off the set with a kill to win 25-21.
The Cougars and Sun Devils recorded 12 kills each in the set but Arizona State once again outhit BYU .364 to .259. Arizona State also notched four aces in set two to BYU’s one.
Set Three
BYU built off the rhythm it found late in the second set and reignited the Smith Fieldhouse crowd as it went blow-for-blow with the Sun Devils in the opening moments of the third. Kills from Livingston, McEwan-Llarenas and both Bower sisters knotted the set at six before Arizona State responded with another run to go up 9-6.
McEwan-Llarenas posted a kill as she helped BYU tie up the set at nine. Two kills from Livingston then kept the Cougars in it at 11-all. Arizona State found one more run and took off for what proved to be a decisive 17-12 advantage. Claire Little brought BYU a spark off the bench but a pair of errors and continued high-powered hitting from the Sun Devils were enough for the visitors to come away with a 25-21 win in the third.
Senior setter Whitney Bower
On her career at BYU
"I think I'm just grateful for the chance to play with All-Americans and teammates. Some of the best players I've ever played with since the very beginning, like Mary [Lake] and McKenna [Miller], they were ballers, and now I get to finish playing with Erin [Livingston] and my sister [Eden Bower]. I'm just so grateful to play with some the most selfless and humble teammates ever and they're givers. It's just so easy to play for them and the coaching staff. I'm just so grateful for selfless coaches who always put in so much time to coach us. I know it's not easy for them, but they're always trying to problem solve and always trying to find ways to make us better. I love the grittiness about BYU and I'm just grateful for the chance to play here."
Senior outside hitter Erin Livingston
On playing with Whitney Bower
"What I'm going to remember about Whitney is just her grittiness. She's all over the floor for us every match and every practice. She fights through so much for us. She's a fighter and my best friend and just literally the best teammate I've ever played with in my life. I love Whitney, and she's the best."
