The Brigham Young Cougars celebrate their win following the third set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

By Brandon Gurney

PROVO — BYU had been there many times before, and New Mexico State, well, hadn’t.

And it showed, at least early on.

The No. 14-seeded Cougars took Friday’s match in straight sets on Friday (25-7, 25-23, 25-29), and yes, the first set proved extremely lopsided.

Call it nerves, unfamiliarity with teams playing at BYU’s level, or something, else, the Aggies looked completely overmatched in the first set.

1 of 13
Brigham Young libero Mary Lake (18) celebrates with the team after a point during the third set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
2 of 13
Brigham Young libero Mary Lake (18) sets the ball during the third set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
3 of 13
Brigham Young head coach Heather Olmstead talks to her team during a timeout in the third set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
4 of 13
Brigham Young middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg (24) extends to pop the ball across the net during the third set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
5 of 13
Brigham Young outside hitter Riley Lyman (20) gets a dig during the second set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
6 of 13
Brigham Young opposite hitter Kate Grimmer (12) spikes the ball against New Mexico outside hitter Savannah Davison (19) during the second set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
7 of 13
Brigham Young setter Whitney Bower (7) and middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg (24) make a block during the second set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
8 of 13
Brigham Young middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg (24) and outside hitter McKenna Miller (14) block a hit from New Mexico outside hitter Ashley Anselmo (3) during the second set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
9 of 13
Brigham Young libero Mary Lake (18) extends trying to get the dig during the first set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
10 of 13
Brigham Young middle blocker Heather Gneiting (2) rolls the ball off her fingertips for a point during the second set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
11 of 13
Brigham Young middle blocker Heather Gneiting (2) gets a point against New Mexico middle blocker Megan Hart (12) during the second set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
12 of 13
Brigham Young middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg (24) celebrates after a point during the third set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News
13 of 13
Brigham Young Libero Mary Lake (18) celebrates after a point during the third set of a first round volleyball match in the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Women's Volleyball Championship at the George Albert Smith Fieldhouse in Provo on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

“For me it just felt like the jitters of the tournament,” said BYU coach Heather Olmstead. “That’s not their team, at all, and I know that. So we just tried to stay as neutral as we could after that first set.”

Indeed New Mexico State proved to be the competitive team Olmstead was anticipating during the final two sets and battled hard down the stretch, forcing BYU to execute in tight situations.

But back to that first set when Cougar freshman Whitney Bower held serve for, well, a long time. The freshman setter served it 16 straight times, as it were, helping forge a 16-0 run which was very much the story of the set.

Bower proved more than just an adept server, though, lending 31 assists belying her freshman status with her play.

“She was awesome. I think she did a really great job getting every hitter involved,” said BYU outside hitter McKenna Miller. “We knew (New Mexico State) was a really good blocking team. ... So I think she did a really good job just making our job easier.”

Miller was the beneficiary of Bower’s sets to the tune of a team-high 13 kills but was followed closely by freshman Kate Grimmer, who finished with 10.

“Kate had a great match and I’m really proud of what she’s doing,” Olmstead said. “She provides great energy and spark, and she has the ability to go back and serve when we need her to.”

As good as BYU’s freshmen were, it was junior Kennedy Eschenberg who perhaps helped set the tone as much as anyone. The 6-foot-5 middle blocker proved too much for the Aggies to handle early, swatting back many a kill attempt while finishing with six for the match and five kills.

“Kennedy was a beast up there,” Olmstead said. “I think that a big part of that first set run was us getting in their face early. ... It rattled them a little bit.”

The Aggies were led by Savannah Davison and her 12 kills.

With the win, BYU moves on to the second round where it will take on Utah Saturday night at the Smith Fieldhouse.