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Columbus, Ohio • The BYU Cougars likely will have to go through No. 2 Long Beach State and No. 1 Ohio State, the latter on its home court at St. John Arena, if they hope to deliver the school's fourth national title in men's volleyball this week.

It will be a very difficult task — perhaps downright impossible — if the Cougars don't get a heavy contribution from two-time All-American opposite hitter Ben Patch, a junior who has said he will turn professional when the season concludes. The Cougars (24-4) won all 11 matches that Patch missed with a groin injury and should be able to get past sixth-seeded Barton College (23-5) in a first-round match Tuesday with an average effort.

But they will have to be clicking on all cylinders to beat the 49ers or Buckeyes, the two best teams in the country most of the season, and that includes getting Patch to play like he did as a freshman and sophomore as well as before the Feb. 4 injury.

Patch was left off the All-American lists Monday when the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its postseason honors for 2017. BYU senior outside hitter Jake Langlois made the first team, while juniors Leo Durkin, Price Jarman and Brenden Sander received honorable mention recognition.

BYU was swept 3-0 by Hawaii the last time it played, which was in the MPSF tournament semifinals. Patch started and played OK, but the Cougars weren't in sync late in all three sets. All three were tied 20-20, but Hawaii won the big points down the stretch.

"Just going in, I felt fine physically," Patch said. "I don't think I had my best game mentally or emotionally, but I think consistency wise, my serving, digging, hitting was about where I usually am."

The other outstanding opposite hitter on BYU's roster, German Tim Dobbert, played well in Patch's absence in February and March, but he doesn't have the ability to take over matches like Patch does.

Whatever the case, Patch said the Cougars enter Tuesday's match against the Bulldogs of Conference Carolinas with their confidence and unity intact.

"As a team we are super, super close," Patch said. "Our chemistry and the culture of our team is always just to persevere and work hard. We've lost before and we lost last weekend, but that doesn't change our goal and that doesn't change our focus. Ultimately, it doesn't change our confidence at all."

If the Cougars win Tuesday, they will face LBSU in a national semifinal match Thursday. The teams split a pair of matches in Provo in the MPSF season.

Twitter: @drewjay —

NCAA men's volleyball championships

P At St. John Arena, Columbus, Ohio

Tuesday's first-round match

• No. 3 BYU (24-4) vs. No. 6 Barton College (23-5), 4 p.m. MDT