Jan. 12, 2007

The third-ranked and defending NCAA champion UCLA men's volleyball team fell in three games to No.2 BYU Friday night in Provo, UT.

BYU won 30-28, 30-22, 30-26 in one hour and 44 minutes before 5,537 in Smith Fieldhouse. The loss evened UCLA's record at 2-2 overall, 0-1 in MPSF play. BYU improved to 3-0, 1-0.

On this night, the Bruins had no answer for BYU's Yosleyder Cala and Russell Holmes. They combined for 27 of the Cougars' 51 kills and recorded just one error between them. Cala, a Cuban import, hammered 15 kills and hit .789. Holmes added 12 kills and hit .786.

As a team, the Cougars hit .500; the Bruins hit .330. Neither team served an ace and BYU held the edge in blocking at 8.0-7.0.

Senior Paul George hit .700 with 15 kills in 20 attempts. Freshman Garrett Muagututia added nine kills (.375). Sophomore setter Matt Wade recorded 36 assists and three kills.

The two teams conclude the series Saturday at 7 p.m. in Smith Fieldhouse