Provo • The No. 14-seeded BYU volleyball team made quick use of the first set to get ahead of New Mexico State and, while the Aggies were more competitive in the following two sets, the Cougars won 3-0 (25-7, 25-23, 25-19) on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Cougars will face Utah Saturday, 7 p.m., at Smith Fieldhouse in the second round. The Utes beat Illinois in five sets (25-23, 24-26, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10) earlier Friday to advance.
BYU closed out the first set on a 17-2 run, in which Whitney Bower made 16 consecutive serves.