After gutting out a five-game victory in the quarterfinal round of the Mountain West Conference Tournament last Thursday, the BYU women's volleyball team dropped a match in the same amount of games the next night.

The Cougars beat New Mexico, 33-35, 30-28, 28-30, 30-19, 16-14, led by Chelsea Goodman's 21 kills and 11 digs. Erica Lott finished with 18 kills and 12 digs, Bryn Porter had 12 kills and 13 digs and Amy Schlauder contributed with 63 assists and 14 digs.

In a semifinal match the following night, BYU blew a 2-1 games lead to fall in the final two as second-seeded and tournament host UNLV beat the Cougars 35-33, 22-30, 31-29, 24-30, 16-14. The loss eliminated the Cougars (21-7) from the MWC Tournament.

Goodman led BYU with 22 kills while Ashton Hansen had 18, Porter tallied 16, Rachel Dyer contributed 16 and Lott added 12.

On Sunday, the Cougars received word that they would make their 24th appearance in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship. BYU was an at-large selection — one of 33 in the tournament. The Cougars are scheduled to play the University of Mississippi (25-7) Friday at 5:30 p.m.

It will be just the second meeting between the two teams, with the Cougars winning the only other matchup, in 1978.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: The Cougars (3-2) survived a second-half run by Seton Hall (4-2) and used clutch free throw shooting and a defensive play late to squeak by the Pirates, 47-43, on Friday in Provo.

BYU's Cassie King was 4-for-4 on free throws in the final minutes, Mallary Gillespie-Carling hit four of her own and Shawnee Slade sealed the victory with a steal with seconds remaining.

Carling led all scorers with 15 points, making it the 51st time the senior has recorded double-digit points in her career.

The Cougars will take on national powerhouse Connecticut — ranked No. 2 — tonight in Hartford at 7.

RUGBY: BYU All-American prop Derek Smith will represent the Pacific Coast Grizzlies at next month's National All-Star championships in Florida.

Smith also played with the Collegiate Grizzlies earlier this year, and his good performance at the Grizzly Shield tournament — which pits Pacific Coast Local Area Union men's all-star teams against each other — likely increased

his chances of being selected to play with the Grizzlies. The team will be captained by USA center Vaha Esikia.

"It's an honor to go to the NASCs with the Grizzlies," Smith said. "It's another chance to compete against great rugby players and help get the championship back for the Grizzlies."

ICE HOCKEY: The Cougars were victorious on the road, defeating Utah, 7-2, in Salt Lake City last Friday. BYU next takes on Utah State in a home-and-away series this weekend. The games are Friday at home at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday in Logan at 8 p.m.

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E-mail: cpeterson@desnews.com