Jan. 9, 2001
STANFORD, Calif. - Four different Stanford players had at least six kills as the No. 5 Cardinal men's volleyball team opened its 2001 season with a 30-12, 30-16, 30-16 victory over visiting D'Youville at Maples Pavilion. Stanford posted a .427 hitting percentage, while D'Youville managed only a -.143 mark.
The match marked the first for Stanford under the new rules enacted by the NCAA: best-of-five rally scoring to 30, the let serve rule and the international pursuit rule.
The Cardinal attack was led by sophomore outside hitter Billy Strickland, who enjoyed a fine all-around match with eight kills, a .700 hitting percentage, four digs and three total blocks (two block solos). Junior outside hitter Marcus Skacel also contributed seven kills and four digs, while sophomore Curt Toppel pounded home seven kills with three digs. Over the final two games, sophomore William Curtis notched six kills and a .556 hitting percentage and fellow second-year player Paul Bocage had five kills and a solo block. Senior setter Josh Lukens, who enters the campaign with the third most assists in Stanford history, handed out 37 assists in the season opener.
Stanford took command early, hitting .478 (14 kills, 3 errors, 23 total attempts) in game one en route to a 30-12 victory, its most decisive of the match. Game two began tight, but Toppel had a string of three consecutive kills and a solo block to spark the 30-16 Cardinal win. Game three was more of the same, as the Cardinal outhit the Spartans .407 to -.107 while cruising to the 30-16 triumph.
D'Youville, a Division III school from Buffalo, NY, was led by eight kills from senior middle blocker Brent Macrow.
Stanford is next in action on Friday, January 12, when it hosts Arizona at Maples Pavilion. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
Score by Games 123 D'Youville121616 Stanford303030