Sept. 3, 2004
Reno, NV - Sophomore outside hitter Kristin Richards posted a career-high 23 kills as the sixth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team defeated Utah State, 3-1, today at the SBC/Sands Regency Invitational in Reno, Nevada. Game scores were 30-23, 28-30, 30-20, 30-17.
The Cardinal trailed 9-11 to open game one then strung together six consecutive points to go up 15-11 on a service ace by freshman setter Bryn Kehoe. Utah State tied the game at 18-all and took the lead at 21-20. Stanford scored three of the next four points to take a 24-22 lead. With the Cardinal up, 24-23, Stanford rattled off the remaining six points to win 30-23 on a kill by freshman middle blocker Franci Girard.
Stanford fell behind early in game two, trailing 5-10 at one point. They trimmed the deficit to 11-13 but the Aggies pushed forward to take a 20-13 advantage. The Cardinal closed to within two at 18-20 but could get no closer as Utah State built a 26-20 lead. Stanford pulled to within one at 27-28 but would fall 28-30 to end the game.
The Cardinal roared back in game three building an 11-6 lead behind the serving of senior Jennifer Hucke. Stanford increased the lead to 22-11 with Kehoe serving (she recorded three service aces in game two alone). A kill by Girard put the Cardinal up 28-19 and another Girard kill gave Stanford game point at 29-20. A solo block by Kehoe ended the game, 30-20.
With Kehoe serving to begin game four, Stanford opened up an 8-0 lead. A kill by senior Ogonna Nnamani put the Cardinal up 14-6 while a Richards kill gave Stanford the 20-12 edge. SU continued to roll going up 27-13 on a kill by Hucke. Ogonna Nnamani gave Stanford match point on a kill at 29-16 while Girard closed out the game with her eighth kill of the night at 30-17.
Three Cardinal players posted double figures in kills including Richards (23), Ogonna Nnamani (16) and Hucke (12). Richards led the match with a career-tying 22 digs on the night while Nnamani added 12. Kehoe tallied 51 assists and a match-high five service aces for Stanford. Kehoe, along with Lizzie Suiter, led the team with five blocks each.
Stanford is back in action tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. against St. Mary's College. They will face host Nevada at 7:30 p.m. as well.