It didn't take long for No. 12 BYU to make its presence felt at the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament on Thursday night.
The Cougars made short work of Seton Hall in a first-round match at the McKale Center on the campus of the University of Arizona, sweeping the Pirates in straight sets.
The scores were 25-16, 25-18 and 25-17.
"I am just really excited for these kids," said BYU coach Shawn Olmstead. "They did exactly what was asked of them coming into this match. They were very well prepared."
BYU will meet the winner of the Arizona-Yale match on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the McKale Center. The winner of that match will advance to the regional in Seattle.
BYU (26-4) never trailed in any of the three sets against the Pirates, who were making their first NCAA appearance in volleyball.
Using their powerful block, the Cougars got four straight blocks in the first set to take a 7-1 lead.
Jennifer Hamson and Alexa Gray led BYU with 10 kills apiece, while sophomore Whitney Young added seven block assists and Camry Godfrey Willardson added 34 assists. Amy Boswell had six block assists and libero Ciara Parker had 18 digs.
"We had some players who came in and did their things," Olmstead said. "I liked the team effort. We were good at what we've been good at all this year."
The Cougars made it to the NCAA regional semifinals in each of the past two seasons, but getting there a third time won't be easy.
Arizona (24-9) finished 12-8 in Pac-12 play and finished in third place in that league to receive the No. 11 overall seed. BYU leads the overall series against Arizona, 14-12, but the teams have not met since 2002.
Gray, Alexa_SW29520 BYU's Alexa Gray (9) spikes the ball past two Seton Hall defenders in the second set. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Nobles, Tambre_SW29288 BYU's Tambre Nobles spikes the ball in the first set. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Hamson, Jen_SW29225 BYU outside hitter Jennifer Hamson spikes the ball past Seton Hall. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Gray, Alexa_SW29542 BYU's Alexa Gray celebrates a point against Seton Hall in the second set. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Young, Whitney_SW29611 BYU's Whitney Young splits the Seton Hall defense for a kill. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Young, Whitney_SW29212 BYU's Whitney Young hits the ball past a Seton Hall defender. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Young, Whitney Block_SW20012 BYU's Whitney Young (16) blocks the ball for a point in the third set. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Team_SW29673 BYU's Jennifer Hamson (19) celebrates a point with her team in the second set. The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
Overall_SW13913 The BYU Women's Volleyball Team defeated Seton Hall 3-0 in the First Round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships in the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. December 4, 2014 Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU © BYU PHOTO 2014 All Rights Reserved photo@byu.edu (801)422-7322
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