Sept. 4, 2004
Reno, NV - Senior outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani notched a match-high 21 kills as St. Mary's College upset the sixth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team, 3-2, this morning at the SBC/Sands Regency Invitational in Reno, Nevada. Game scores were 25-30, 22-30, 30-27, 30-28, 8-15.
The two teams remained close throughout most of game one. With the game tied at 19-all, the Gaels scored two quick points to take the 21-19 lead and then extended the lead to 26-21. Stanford held off two game points at 29-23, but eventually fell 25-30.
With game two knotted up at nine-all, the Gaels went on a six-point run to take the 15-9 lead. After SMC went up 17-11, Stanford called their final timeout. The Cardinal fought back to close the gap to four points at 18-22 on a kill by sophomore Kristin Richards. A service error by the Gaels pulled the Cardinal to within three at 22-25, but SMC would string together the final five points to win, 30-22, and take the two game lead into the break.
Game three remained close until the Gaels forced a Stanford timeout at 13-9. SMC continued to push forward going up 17-11 as the Cardinal took their final timeout. Stanford pulled to within four at 19-23 after a block solo by freshman Franci Girard and tied up the game at 23-all on a kill by senior Ogonna Nnamani. The two squads traded points until Stanford went up 28-27 on a block by Jennifer Hucke and Lizzie Suiter. Another block by the duo got the Cardinal to game point at 29-27. A SMC hitting error gave Stanford the 30-27 win to force a fourth game.
The Cardinal and the Gaels traded points early in game four until SMC staked a 14-11 lead, forcing a Stanford timeout. The Cardinal took their final timeout trailing 14-19 after consecutive Gael kills. Stanford pulled to within one at 20-21 on a block by Hucke and Girard. They tied the game up at 25-all on a block by Girard and freshman Bryn Kehoe. With the Cardinal trailing 27-28, Stanford tallied back-to-back. kills from Hucke and O. Nnamani to reach game point at 29-28. A kill by O. Nnamani forced a decisive game five as Stanford won 30-28.
The Cardinal fell behind early in game five and never really recovered. They were down 9-4 after a hitting error, then pulled to within three at 7-10 on a kill by Richards. Trailing 8-12, the Gaels would rattle off the final three points to pull off the upset, 15-8.
The loss marked Stanford first loss to St. Mary's in five matches played.
Ogonna Nnamani led the team with 21 kills, followed by Kristin Richards' 19 kills. Jennifer Hucke added 15 - one shy of her career high. Leahi Hall notched a career high 19 digs against the Gaels while Bryn Kehoe led the squad with 20. Lizzie Suiter recorded a career high nine blocks on the morning while Girard and Hucke added six each.
Stanford is back in action tonight against Nevada at 7:30 p.m. to close out tournament play.