BYU NewsNet - Cougars Hit Road As Season Nears End

BYU's women's volleyball team looks to finish the regular season strong with just six matches remaining before the Mountain West Conference Tournament, as the Cougars will travel to play at New Mexico and TCU this weekend.

"New Mexico is a really good defensive team, so we're just going to have to stay in it for a long time," libero Annie Kemp Pinegar said. "TCU has a really active setter and good serving, so we also need to be passing well and serving well against both teams."

After the loss to Utah over the weekend, the Cougars slipped to No. 18 in the latest CSTV/AVCA poll. They now stand at 19-3 overall. They are tied with Colorado State for second in the MWC with a 9-2 conference record.

"I think the most important thing at this stage of the season for us is that every match is equally important," BYU coach Jason Watson said. "They're important for seeding, they're important for postseason, so I think there is some pressure on us to perform well."

The Cougars continue to lead the conference in hitting percentage, ranking 10th nationally. They also rank second in the MWC and 27th in the NCAA in blocks.

Middle blockers Rachel Dyer and Lindsy Hartsock are first and second in the conference in hitting percentage.

Setter Amy Schlauder is first in the MWC and 14th in the NCAA in assists. Outside hitter Chelsea Goodman and rightside hitter Erica Lott are first and second in the conference in kills.

TCU (17-10, 5-7) lost a roller coaster five-set match in their first meeting with the Cougars in Provo earlier this season. Trailing 9-4 in the deciding fifth game, BYU went on an 11-1 run to pull out the match.

TCU leads the conference and is 25th in the NCAA in aces. They are led by middle blocker Anna Vaughn, who ranks fourth in the conference in hitting percentage and points. Libero Calli Corley ranks third in the MWC in digs.

New Mexico (7-17, 3-9) won the first game in their match with the Cougars in Provo earlier this season before BYU recovered to win the next three games and the match.

Libero Gayle Tripp ranks fourth in the conference in digs to lead the Lobos. Setter Sarah Kwasigroch is seventh in the MWC in assists.

The Cougars play New Mexico Friday at 7 p.m. and TCU Saturday, (Nov. 4, 2006) at 6 p.m. MST.

Live statistics for both matches will be available from the schedule portion of the team's page on byucougars.com. Live video will also be available from the same page to CSTV XXL subscribers.