Oct. 29, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - The fifth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team dropped a 26-24, 27-25, 25-10 match to No. 6 UCLA, Saturday, at Maples Pavilion. It marked the first home loss of the season for the Cardinal, which falls to 17-4 overall and 11-4 in the Pac-12. UCLA improve to 20-3 overall and 13-2 in the conference.
Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Williams led the team with 11 kills and 12 digs for her 13th double-double of the year. Sophomore Carly Wopat added seven kills and three blocks, while junior Hayley Spelman finished with six kills and two blocks. Junior setter Karissa Cook recorded 27 assists, five digs, three kills and two blocks. Junior libero Hannah Benjamin finished with a team-high 13 digs.
Stanford led 24-22 in the opening set, but the Bruins scored four straight points to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Neither team hit well offensively as Stanford posted a .105 attack percentage, while UCLA recorded a .095 clip. Williams led the Cardinal with five kills and five digs, while Cook and Bai registered two kills apiece. UCLA's Rachael Kidder led the Bruins with four kills despite hitting negative in the set.
The Bruins again edged the Cardinal in the second set, 27-25. Stanford led 24-21, but UCLA used a 6-1 run to secure the victory. Stanford outhit UCLA .250 to .205, but was unable to hold off the Bruins down the stretch. Williams continued to lead the team with five kills, four digs and two blocks. Spelman added four kills as Cook racked up 11 assists for the Cardinal. Kidder put down eight kills to lead the Bruins in the set.
It was all UCLA in the third as the Bruins completed the sweep with a 25-10 victory. UCLA hit .448 in the set while holding Stanford to a .056 attack percentage. Williams was held to just one kill as Stanford managed to post just eight kills in the set. Kidder finished with 16 kills to lead the Bruins.
Stanford hits the road next week, travelling to Pac-12 newcomers Colorado and Utah. The Cardinal will face the Buffaloes on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. MT and the Utes on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. MT.