tournament results mean more than regular season results. For example, the winner of the NCAA tournament is awarded the championship. There is no regular season national champ.
Utah was one of the best 16 teams last season. BYU was somewhere between 17-32.
The margin between BYU and Utah was not all that close when it counted most, as Utah demolished them (on BYU's home court even) during the competition which the NCAA deems most important.
It was unusual how BYU faded down the stretch of the season. I like sports but am not a volleyball expert. What makes a team get worse as the season rolls on... coaching??