Nov. 25, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - The sixth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team dropped a 26-24, 27-29, 23-25, 14-25 decision to No. 10 California in the regular season finale for both squads at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal falls to 21-7 overall and 15-7 in the Pac-12, while the Bears improve to 26-6 overall and 16-6 in the conference.
Sophomore middle blocker Carly Wopat recorded a career high 22 kills on a .553 attack percentage to lead Stanford. It marks the first 20-plus kills performance of her career. Sophomore outside hitter Rachel Williams registered 19 kills and 15 digs to register her conference-leading 19th double-double of the year. Redshirt freshman Lydia Bai added eight kills, five digs and three blocks.
Junior setter Karissa Cook posted her 18th double-double of the season with 50 assists and a career high 21 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist Mary Ellen Luck tallied 12 digs, while junior libero Hannah Benjamin finished with 11 digs and six assists.
Stanford took a 1-0 lead in the match with a 26-24 win in the opening set. Both teams hit well in the set with the Cardinal posting a .375 attack percentage, while the Bears hit .300. There were 11 tie scores and seven lead changes as the set remained close throughout. Williams led the team with eight kills and a .429 attack percentage. Wopat chipped in with five kills on seven errorless swings for a .714 hitting percentage. Cal senior Tarah Murrey led the Bears with seven kills and a .467 hitting percentage.
The second set proved to be just as close as Cal came out on top, 29-27. The Bears recorded four blocks in the set, which had 15 tie scores and four lead changes. Stanford hit .250 in the set and recorded three blocks of its own, but committed 12 costly errors. Wopat led the team with seven kills and two blocks, while Bai and Williams each tallied four kills. Murrey continued to lead the Bears with six kills and three digs in the second.
In the pivotal third set, Cal edged Stanford, 25-23. The Bears held the Cardinal to a .191 hitting percentage and took advantage of 13 Stanford errors. Williams and Wopat combined for nine of the team's 14 kills in the set. Benjamin and Williams each tallied four digs to lead the Cardinal defense. Cal middle blockers Shannon Hawari and Correy Johnson each put down five kills to lead the Bears in the set.
Cal sealed the victory with a 25-14 win in the fourth set. The Bears hit a match-high .471, while holding the Cardinal to a .122 clip. Cal led the entire set and committed just three errors. Wopat led Stanford with five kills, while Williams added three kills and five digs. Murrey finished with a match-high 23 kills and nine digs for Cal.
Stanford will learn its postseason fate this Sunday, Nov. 27 as the 64-team field for the 2011 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship will be announced at 3 p.m. PT on ESPNU. Stanford will head to the tournament for a 31st consecutive year. The Cardinal and Penn State are the only two programs in the nation to appear in all 31 tournaments.