Jan. 16, 2010
STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford men's volleyball team didn't know Al Roderigues would be in attendance until coach John Kosty informed them in the locker room before Saturday's match against Hawai'i.
"It gave us chills," senior Evan Romero said. "We were so happy to see him."
Roderigues, in his 19th year with the team, was making his first trip to Stanford this season as he battles stomach cancer.
The No. 3 Cardinal beat No. 8 Hawai'i, 30-23, 30-26, 30-19, at Maples Pavilion to complete a sweep of the season-opening two-match series. After the team ran through a tunnel of students, as if they just won an AYSO soccer game, they headed up the stairs and onto the upper concourse to greet the man known affectionately as "Big Al," who watched from a wheelchair.
"Tonight, he officially started his 19th season with the Cardinal," Kosty said.
Roderigues holds the ceremonial title of director of operations this year because the team needed to fill his assistant coaching position with someone who could be with the team every day. But Roderigues remains a Stanford coach in the eyes of Kosty and the team.
Big Al certainly was pleased with the play of the Cardinal (2-0 overall), who got a combined 38 kills from Evan Romero, Spencer McLachlin, and Brad Lawson to jump to a 2-0 start in the rugged Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, and finds itself in an early four-way tie for first place with BYU, Cal State Northridge, and USC.
Romero had 14 kills, McLachlin 13 and Lawson 11 as the Cardinal hit a strong .413 as a team against the Warriors (2-3, 0-2), who were limited to a .203 hitting percentage. Stanford also outdigged Hawai'i, 40-24, with libero Erik Shoji picking up 14, likely a national season high.
"The engine of this team is our sideout game," Kosty said. "With our serve-reception and defense, we don't give up points and we don't give up runs of points. We just keep the pressure on our opponent."
Indeed, Stanford never allowed a run of more than three consecutive points in either match.
"A good serve-receive puts pressure on the server to try to try harder, because it's hard to get aces," said Kosty, whose team forced the Warriors into 17 service errors. "And it puts pressure on their defense."
Romero also feels that the team's maturity enables it to play a more efficient game.
"We keep our composure the entire time," he said. "Also, we realize that we can't make mistakes. Now, we're able to get the kills without hurting ourselves."
Kawika Shoji, a beneficiary of the strong serve-receive, had 41 assists, as the team's play in that part of the game put him into better position to make the perfect set. And the Stanford hitters took advantage.
"Evan is playing great," Kosty said. "He's kept improving over four years. Lawson is physically stronger and that's made a difference. And Spencer is a year older, and his experience is paying off."
Next up is No. 5 BYU (4-1, 2-0). The two-match series Friday and Saturday in Provo, Utah, will be Stanford's only venture outside the Pacific time zone this season.
"There are not going to be any easy wins this season," said Kosty, whose team upset then-No. 1 BYU in their last trip to Provo, in 2008. "We had success two years ago, and we're looking to have success next weekend."
-- David Kiefer, Stanford Athletics