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Bower Leads No. 11 BYU to Volleyball Win Over No. 19 Arizona Cougars rally from 2-1 deficit for victory over host Wildcats
Oct. 27, 1999
TUCSON, Ariz. (Oct. 26, 1999) - Caroline Bower matched her career high with 27 digs and recorded her team-leading fifth double-double of the year to lead BYU to a come-from-behind, five-game win over No. 19 Arizona Tuesday. After winning the first game 15-12, the Cougars feel behind 10-2 in the second game before making a charge and eventually falling 13-15. The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead by dominated game three, limiting the Cougar offense to only three points. But BYU's offense was clicking in the final two games as the Cougars hit .333 and .429 to earn 15-6 and 15-5 wins and the 3-2 match victory. "We were really up and down tonight but we took charge in the fourth and fifth games to get the win," BYU coach Elaine Michaelis said. "Caroline Bower carried us. She had 27 digs and did a great job serving with two service aces. She was definitely the player of the game." One of three Cougar seniors, Bower put down 11 kills with only one error in 27 attempts to hit .345 on the night while equaling her career high in digs with a match-high 27. Senior Mari Carpenter and junior Melissa Layton led BYU with 13 kills apiece while sophomore Nina Puikkonen and freshman Sunny Tonga joined Bower with 11 kills. The Cougars out hit the Wildcats .247 to .158 and had a strong blocking night with 18 team blocks. Layton, who is playing her third straight match in the middle after playing rightside most of the year, led the way with nine blocks while Puikkonen, the Cougars other middle blocker, added seven blocks, and All-American senior setter Anna-Lena Smith contributed six. Smith also played exceptionally well on offense, dumping eight kills over the net while equaling her career-high hitting percentage of .615. BYU's all-time assist leader totalled 57 assists on the night. The Wildcats had three players with double-digit kills. Raelene Elam led the way with a double-double 15 kills and 15 digs while Lisa Rutledge and Jill Talbot added 14 kills apiece.
With the win, BYU returns home to face New Mexico and Air Force
Friday and Saturday with a 17-3 record and No. 11 national ranking.
At 6-1 in the Mountain West Conference, the Cougars are tied for
first place with No. 12 Colorado State. No. 19 Arizona falls to 12-8
with the loss, its third straight to a ranked opponent.
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