March 31, 2007
The Stanford Cardinal fell to UC Stanta Barbara Saturday night in MPSF play at Robertson Gymnasium. The No. 5 Gauchos topped the Cardinal is three straight games, 30-25, 30-26, and 30-26 as they improve to a 17-10 overall record. The loss drops Stanford to 3-21 and 2-16 in league play.
Stanford posted a .333 hitting percentage for the night. The squad was led by Evan Romero with 14 kills and three aces. Matt Ceran and Kawika Shoji each added 12 kills apiece, while Shoji and Jarod Keller finished with six digs. Setter Miki Groppie tallied 39 assists.
Santa Barbara's Theo Brunner had 14 kills and David Kennedy added 7 with a match best five blocks tonight. Bryan Berman and libero Tyson Norton both had a match-high of nine digs.
The Cardinal led the opening game as Shoji tallied the first kill of the night. UCSB quickly came to a 9-5 lead following two kills. Another kill by the Gauchos put them up 15-10. Stanford got within two points twice, once at 20-18 and again at 26-24, but a Gaucho kill and a Stanford hitting error put UCSB back up by four at 28-24. Following a Gaucho service error, Santa Barbara ended the game with a kill and block respectively.
Stanford again took an early lead in game two. Two straight kills from UCSB put the Gauchos ahead. Romero the game 3-3 with a kill, but Santa Barbara returned the favor and put the Gauchos up for good for the rest of the game. UCSB took the game 30-26.
The third game stayed within one or two points until a Gaucho kill followed by an ace to put UCSB up by four at 23-19. Stanford pulled back within two points twice, but were unable to close the gap. Santa Barbara took game three 30-26.
The Cardinal will return home next weekend with matches on Friday and Saturday night at 7pm.