Nov. 6, 2004
Stanford, Calif. - Senior outside hitter Ogonna Nnamani pounded out a match-best 27 kills as the 12th-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team upset No. 4 USC, 3-0, tonight in Burnham Pavilion before a crowd of 1,441. Game scores were 30-18, 30-24, 30-27. The Cardinal improve to 17-6, 9-3 in the Pac-10 while the Trojans fall to 15-4, 10-3 in league play.
The two teams battled back and forth early in game one, until the Cardinal went up 13-9 on a cross-court kill by Ogonna Nnamani, forcing a Trojan timeout. Stanford pushed the lead to 17-11 on a solo block by Lizzie Suiter. USC took their final timeout trailing 14-21 after a kill by Kristin Richards. The Cardinal continued to roll, taking game one 30-18. Stanford hit .538 with four blocks.
The Cardinal held a slim 10-8 lead early in game two, and took a 15-13 advantage into the media timeout after another Ogonna Nnamani kill. USC took their first timeout trailing 15-19 after a Trojan attack went into the net. An ace by Courtney Schultz put the Cardinal up 23-18 as USC called their final timeout. Stanford took their first timeout at 24-20. A kill by Kristin Richards put the Cardinal at game point, leading 29-24. Stanford won game two 30-24 on a kill by Franci Girard to go up two games to none.
Game three remained close between the two teams with Stanford leading 14-10 when USC called their first timeout after a solo block by Lizzie Suiter. The Cardinal continued to roll going up 21-15 on a kill by Ogonna Nnamani. The Trojans stormed back to close the gap to two points, at 20-22, forcing Stanford timeout. USC tied up the game at 26-all after a Trojan block. The Cardinal called their final timeout. The two teams traded points until Stanford reached game point at 29-27 after a Trojan attack went long and USC called their final timeout. Ogonna Nnamani notched a back row kill to close out the match, 30-27.
Kristin Richards added 11 kills and eight digs while Lizzie Suiter and Franci Girard notched five blocks each on the night. Bryn Kehoe tallied a match-high 44 assists and two service aces as well.
Stanford travels to the Oregon schools next week in continued conference action.