PROVO — The nation's top-ranked Brigham Young men's volleyball team started its 2008 campaign with a sweep of UC San Diego last weekend.

Friday the Cougars defeated the Tritons 30-21, 30-28, 27-30, 31-29, led by Jonathan Charette's 16 kills, a .375 hitting percentage and nine digs.

"It was a battle," BYU interim head coach Shawn Patchell said after the match. "We got the W in the end, so we're pleased. We were up in the third game, but they caught all the momentum and made big plays when they needed to. In the fourth we were behind. Our seniors played like seniors in the end and led the way in a very tightly contested set."

The following night, with the same two teams playing, BYU got a sweep. Led by Andrew Stewart's match-high 15 kills, the Cougars won 30-27, 30-22, 30-28, to improve their all-time record against the Tritons to 24-0.

BYU's next match is at Indiana University-Purdue Fort Wayne, Friday at 7 p.m. The next night, the Cougars take on Lewis at 7 p.m.

Cougar Joel Silva will participate in the 2008 Olympic Summer Games as a member of the Venezuelan National Team. The sophomore libero helped Venezuela beat Argentina recently to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Senior outside hitter Ivan Perez is currently playing with the Puerto Rican National Team as it also attempts to make the Olympics.

ICE HOCKEY: The Cougars fell to Utah State, 5-3, on Friday but bounced back with a 3-1 victory over Division 1 opponent Weber State on Saturday.

BYU took a 1-0 lead before the Wildcats tied things up. But the Cougars netted two unanswered goals to seal the victory.

The Cougars next travel to California for a trio of games this weekend. On Thursday, they play in Harbor City, Calif., as they take on Loyola Marymount at 9:30 p.m. The next two nights, they face off against Long Beach State in Lakewood, Calif. Friday's game is set for 9:15 p.m., while Saturday's is at 7:30 p.m.

SWIMMING AND DIVING: The men's and women's teams got back into action in a winning fashion

Last Thursday, the swim and dive teams beat visiting Texas Christian University. The men won 140-95, while the women were victorious 126-100.

The next day, the men's swimming squad came out on top against the University of Washington, 148-140. Then on Saturday, the women's swimming team took care of San Diego State, 136-96.

Both the men and women are back in action today, as they take on Colorado State at home in the Richards Building Pool at 6 p.m.