No. 8 BYU Men's Volleyball Falls to No. 1 UCLA in 4 Sets

Cougars rally after tough first set but can't overcome top-ranked Bruins

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:43pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in bold primary colors depicts the action and energy of a men's volleyball game, with players and the court deconstructed into sharp, overlapping shapes.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the intensity and dynamism of a high-stakes men's volleyball matchup between two top-ranked teams.Westwood Today

The No. 8 BYU men's volleyball team fell to the top-ranked UCLA Bruins 3-1 (25-14, 17-25, 25-17, 25-18) in a matchup of top-10 programs. BYU struggled in the opening set but bounced back to win the second before ultimately falling short against the nation's best team.

Why it matters

This loss drops BYU to 8-4 on the season and raises questions about their ability to compete with the elite programs in the country. However, the Cougars showed resilience in battling back after a poor start, indicating they have the potential to challenge the top teams if they can play a more consistent brand of volleyball.

The details

BYU fell behind early, losing the first set 25-14 to the powerful UCLA attack. The Cougars responded by taking the second set 25-17 to even the match, but the Bruins regained control in the final two sets to secure the victory.

  • The match took place on Thursday, April 17, 2026 in Westwood, California.

The players

Tyler Herget

A senior on the BYU men's volleyball team.

UCLA Bruins

The No. 1 ranked men's volleyball team in the nation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This match highlighted the gap between BYU and the top teams in the country, but also showed the Cougars' ability to make adjustments and compete at a high level. If BYU can build on their second-set performance, they may be able to challenge the elite programs later in the season.