OREM – The Wolverines welcome in-state rival, #14 BYU, into Lockhart Arena for the UCCU Crosstown Clash on Thursday, Feb. 4. The match will be broadcasted on the WAC Digital Network and is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. MT.

"We set a schedule and already that schedule is different, whether it's on our end or the other team's end and it's crazy," said Utah Valley head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. "I never thought we'd have to add a match in the middle of our season but now, as we are rescheduling some of our other matches, it's now the norm. The only thing that I know that is guaranteed is that we just played two matches and you have to cherish the opportunities that you have. I expect that we will be prepared and ready to go and so will BYU on Thursday."

"Being able to have a chance to go out and play BYU, I want to see how we compete and continue to work on our abilities to execute and keep improving on the systems we have in place," said Atoa. "I feel like we have been passing fairly well the last few matches and I want to see us continue to step up to the challenge, regardless of who it is, and try to win that battle. It's another opportunity to go out and compete."
 
Thursday's contest will mark the fifteenth all-time meeting between UVU and BYU. The Wolverines are yet to win a match in the series, including an 0-6 mark at home. The Cougars recorded the win last year in three sets in Provo, on Aug. 30.  Last time these two faced off in Orem, the Wolverines lost a tightly contested four-set match, 3-1, on Sep. 16.
 
The Cougars went 26-5 overall a season ago and 16-2 in West Coast Conference action. BYU defeated WAC foe, New Mexico State in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament before falling, 3-0, to Utah in the second round. The Cougars swept Portland, 3-0, on the road to open its season on Jan. 26

Utah Valley then returns to WAC play to take on California Baptist. The Wolverines and Lancers have agreed to reschedule their matches that were previously canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The matches will be in Riverside, Calif. on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 8-9, in Van Dyne Gym. Monday's match is set for 6:00 p.m. MT, while Tuesday's contest is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. MT. Both matches will be broadcasted on the WAC Digital Network.