Sept. 26, 2003
Stanford, Calif. - Junior outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani notched a match-high 19 kills as the fourth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team swept Washington State, 3-0, tonight in Maples Pavilion. Game scores were 30-28, 30-23, 30-28.
The Cardinal improve to 9-2 on the year, 3-0 in the Pac-10 while the Cougars fall to 5-8, 2-2 in conference play.
With game one tied at 7-all, the Cardinal strung together four straight points to go up 11-7 after a block solo by Ogonna Nnamani. Stanford continued to hold the lead going up 16-11 on a Nnamani kill. But the Cougars crept to within two at 17-19 to force a Cardinal timeout. Stanford led 24-22 when three quick points gave the Cardinal a 27-22 advantage on a Jennifer Harvey service ace. Stanford reached game point at 29-23 on a kill by Sara McGee but WSU would not go quietly and held off five game points before falling 30-28 on a Nnamani kill.
Washington State staked a 6-4 lead to open game two before the Cardinal rallied off six consecutive points to force a Cougar timeout at 10-6. Stanford led comfortably at 17-11 on a Katie Goldhahn dump but WSU roared back to close within two at 15-17. The game went back and forth as Stanford took their first timeout leading 24-21. The Cardinal came out to score the next four points to go up 28-21 on an Ogonna Nnamani kill. Stanford reached game point on another Nnamani kill and a WSU hitting error gave the Cardinal the win at 30-23.
Stanford opened game three with a 9-4 lead and never looked back. A kill by Kristin Richards put the Cardinal up 15-9 at the media timeout. Stanford continued to roll building a 20-12 advantage on a kill by Ogonna Nnamani. A block solo by Nnamani gave the Cardinal the 24-13 lead and forced a WSU timeout. A kill by Sara McGee put Stanford at match point leading 29-17 and a Cougar service error closed out the game 30-18.
Senior middle blocker Jennifer Harvey contributed nine kills and a match high seven blocks on the night. Freshman outside hitter Kristin Richards chipped in 13 kills and 11 digs while setter Katie Goldhahn led the team with 44 assists and 13 digs.
Stanford is back in action tomorrow night against No. 13 Washington in Maples Pavilion at 7 p.m.