Sept. 7, 2006
Honolulu, Hawai'i - Eighth-ranked Stanford (4-1) opened the Waikiki Beach Marriott Challenge with a 3-0 win over Northwestern (2-2) this evening, 30-27, 30-27, 30-17. Sophomore outside hitter Cynthia Barboza tallied a season-high 19 kills against the Wildcats with a .441 hitting percentage. Senior Kristin Richards followed with 12 kills, while sophomore Foluke Akinradewo collected 11 kills.
A pair of kills from Akinradewo and Richards put the Cardinal ahead, 4-3 in the first game. Another kill from Richards then spurred a 4-1 run to increase Stanford's lead to 8-4. Northwestern's Stephanie Jurivich placed a kill down the right side as the Wildcats went on a 2-0 spurt, but the Cardinal regained momentum with block from Barboza and Akinradewo, 11-7. A kill from Akinradewo in the middle put Stanford up, 16-10, then the Wildcats pulled out a 5-2 streak to move within three, 18-15. Senior Nji Nnamani slid an impressive kill down the net from the right side to end Northwestern's streak. Following a timeout, junior Franci Girard's service ace kicked off a 3-1 run to bring Stanford's lead to 22-16. Northwestern didn't back down though, going 5-0 to pull within a point, 22-21. Junior Bryn Kehoe's solo block in the middle brought the serve back to the Cardinal, but the Wildcats later tied the game at 25 on an attacking error. Stanford regained the lead on a service error, 26-25, to start a 4-0 streak. Barboza sealed game one with her sixth kill of the game, 30-27.
Barboza put the Cardinal up, 3-2, with a cross-court kill in game two. A block by Kehoe and Girard increased Stanford's lead to 7-4. Northwestern's Chelsy Hyser answered with a block to spark a 3-0 Wildcat run and tie the game at 7. Richards then pounded a kill down the middle to lead the Cardinal to their own 4-0 streak, 11-7. Barboza continued to give the Wildcats trouble with two kills to help Stanford pull ahead, 18-13, and force Northwestern into a timeout. A kill from Nnamani on the right side marked a 22-17 lead for the Cardinal, who then went on a 3-0 run. Northwestern rallied back, 26-22, including service aces by Kate Nobilio and Courtnie Paulus. Northwestern then pulled within two points on a block by Jurivich and Brittany Aldridge, but a triple block for the Cardinal put game two away, 30-27.
In game three, Richards gave the Cardinal its first lead of the game with a kill, 3-2. Stanford then pulled out a 3-0 run off of a tip by Akinradewo, 7-4. The Wildcats later rallied back within a point, 9-8, off of a kill by Julie Purcell. Northwestern trailed by a point until Nnamani spurred a 3-0 run with a powerful kill down the right line, 14-10. Following a timeout, the Cardinal increased its lead to seven with a service ace from Richards, 18-11. Barboza's kill then spurred a 5-0 Cardinal streak to bring the score to 26-14, including two kills from Nnamani. Northwestern fought back with a 3-0 run, but another kill from Barboza put Stanford back in possession, 27-17. A block by freshman Janet Okogbaa and senior Michelle Mellard put the Cardinal within a point of the win, then Richards claimed the match with a kill down the left side, 30-17.
The Cardinal collected a season-high 15.5 blocks against the Wildcats, highlighted by Akinradewo's six blocks. Kehoe notched 38 assists, while Barboza and Fishburn led the squad with 16 digs each.
Stanford will return to action tomorrow against the Fairfield Stags at 4:30 pm (HT).
On the road with the Cardinal...
After a long flight from the Bay Area yesterday, the Cardinal women relaxed with beach time and dinner last night at the Outrigger Canoe Club. Many players tested out the warm water and the 5-7 foot swells for body surfing, while others ventured out to try canoe surfing with Stanford alum and Outrigger member Kisi Hane. We're happy to report that all players returned unscathed from the excursion with big grins, eager to head back out. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for a few members of the staff who encountered a six-foot wave while canoe surfing, acquiring a few wounds, but also returning with big grins. Players and staff were then served an impressive meal of mahi mahi and prime rib at the Outrigger, while being serenaded by an authentic Hawaiian trio. Stanford alums and families currently living in Hawai'i, including newlyweds Tim Young and Paula McNamee, were all present to catch up with the squad over dinner.