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BYU Takes Home Court Against MWC
The Provo Daily Herald Feature Story
Nov. 15, 2001
By Jared Cowley PROVO, Utah - It was an interesting sight Wednesday afternoon, as all eight Mountain West Conference women's volleyball teams gathered for a day of practice at the BYU Smith Fieldhouse. The teams were present for individual one-hour scheduled practices, in preparation for the 2001 MWC volleyball championships, beginning today at the Smith Fieldhouse. The tournament will run through Saturday. Seeded No. 3, BYU will face seventh-seed Wyoming (9-14, 4-10) tonight at 7 p.m. This will be the third straight year the two teams have faced off in the first round. The 18th-ranked Cougars (18-6, 10-4 MWC) started the season 12-2, and were ranked as high as No. 13 in national polls. But the Cougars slowed down in October after two consecutive losses to in-state rivals Utah State and Utah and finished their last 10 games with a 6-4 record. After BYU's Wednesday afternoon practice, though, coach Elaine Michaelis said she feels confident in her team's chances. "I think we're well prepared," she said. "I think the team has found themselves. Whatever setbacks we had during the season are behind us. We're an experienced team and we're ready to play well." Junior Sunny Mahe, BYU's NCAA All-West Region rightside hitter, said that to be successful, the Cougars will have to take it one game at a time. That means not overlooking Wyoming today. "We have to concentrate on Wyoming right now," Mahe said. "We did well against them this season, but they have talent, and we can't look past them." BYU defeated Wyoming twice this season, both times in three straight games.
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