Now that was more like it.
After looking inconsistent and tentative on attack in their match against Chicago State, the #11 Cougars put #7 North Carolina away in four sets, 3-1, to go 2-0 on the young season.
Deep in the fourth set, the Cougars were trailing 17-22, but went on a furious rally that caused the Tar Heels to call both their time outs in rapid succession. It was to no avail--BYU took the set 26-24.
It ended in typical BYU fashion: a dominating block from middle blocker Amy Boswell and outside hitter Alexa Gray. This fourth-set victory was especially sweet, as they were up in a similar position in set 1, and gave it away 27-25. It was fitting to steal the victory after North Caroline stole the first set.
Gray continues to be the bell-ringer for this squad on offence, leading with 22 kills, but she was more than just a front-row threat like in previous years. She also got a pair of aces, a solo block, seven digs and was putting it away with the back-row attack.
She also shanked a couple of serves, but her increased back-row presence both form the service line and as the hammer for one of volleyball's most electric plays, the bick, has increased her utility and kept an important aspect of the Cougar offense they might have lost with the graduation of Jennifer Hamson.
But the most prominent part of the team's success was the re-emergence of their punishing block, the same that led the nation last year. The best runs for BYU occurred when Tar Heel attacks looked like they were hitting into phone booths, sometimes two, three points in a row. This is what brought them back to win that final set, and is the Cougars' most powerful tool in swinging momentum their way.
Defense even beyond the block was also solid. Ciara Parker did what Ciara Parker does, setting a new record with 18 digs in the match.
The Cougars take on #22 USC tonight for the nightcap.
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