Cougar spikers anticipating a good season

BYU opens play tonight with third-ranked UCLA

By Scott Taylor
Deseret Morning News
Published: Friday, Jan. 12, 2007 12:04 a.m. MST
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PROVO — With an exceptionally deep team and favorable home schedule, second-ranked BYU opens Mountain Pacific Sports Federation volleyball play by playing host to defending national champion and third-ranked UCLA.

Matches tonight and Saturday begin at 7 p.m. in the Smith Fieldhouse.

The talent-rich Cougars go at least two deep at all positions, including head coach, with the greatest strengths in the middle and on the sides.

As is the case in odd-numbered years, BYU enjoys a home-friendly schedule, , with perennial powerhouses UCLA, Hawaii and Long Beach State all visiting Provo this year.

Also coming is UC Irvine, which used to be a catch-your-breath opponent — but not any more. The defending MPSF champion Anteaters return just about everybody, making top-ranked UCI the preseason favorite.

Middle blocker may be BYU's deepest and experienced position, highlighting second-team All-American Russell Holmes. The 6-foot-8 junior led the Cougars with a .456 hitting percentage and 155 blocks and was third with 250 total kills.

Joining him are veteran 6-7 junior Trent Sorensen and 6-6 Brazilian freshman Rodnei Santos, who is moving from the side to the middle. Opposite Bryan Stewart could see time at that spot as well.

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BYU boasts two of the nation's top outside hitters in Ivan Perez, a 6-4 junior from Puerto Rico, and Yosleyder Cala, a 6-8 sophomore former Cuban national team standout. If the two Caribbean stars can stay on the same page, they'll form a one-two high-flying, power-packed punch against opponents.

Perez led the team with 326 kills, averaging 3.66 a game and hitting .278. Cala logged a team-best 4.01 kills average, totaling 269 and hitting .359.

They'll be backed up by a pair of talented 6-foot-6 local freshmen in Andrew Stewart from Sandy and Mat Taylor from Orem.

Bryan Stewart, a 6-5 senior coming off a preseason wrist injury, and 6-7 freshman sensation Robby Stowell are penciled at opposite. Jonathan Charette, the 2006 starter, will redshirt to heal from nagging injuries and give the Cougars experience, with Stewart's anticipated graduation and Stowell's planned LDS mission.

Coaches were concerned about starting camp with too many setters, but knee injuries to 2006 back-up Brian Congelliere and freshman standout Reed Chilton made the abundance a welcome blessing. Congelliere is returning from his injury, while Chilton still faces an extended absence. Puerto Rican freshman Yamil Perez started last weekend and played well; sophomore Chip Neff may work into the mix.

Redshirt freshman Andy Pompei and Venezuelan national team member Joel Silva lead at libero.

E-mail: taylor@desnews.com

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