Sept. 15, 2012
MORAGA, Calif. - For the second time this season, the No. 7 Stanford women's volleyball team defeated Saint Mary's, 18-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19, Saturday, at McKeon Pavilion in Moraga, Calif. The Cardinal improves to 8-2 overall, while the Gaels drop to 5-6.
Junior middle blocker Carly Wopat finished with 14 kills and eight blocks to go with two service aces. Freshman middle blocker Inky Ajanaku finished with career highs of 12 kills and a .647 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Jordan Burgess finished one kill shy of a double-double as she tallied 14 digs. Sophomore Morgan Boukather added eight kills.
Freshman setter Madi Bugg tallied 44 assists and 12 digs for her team-best fifth double-double of the year. Sophomore libero Kyle Gilbert reached the 20-dig plateau for the third time this season. Stanford finished with a .265 team hitting percentage, while SMC hit .220.
Saint Mary's won the opening set, 25-18, behind six kills from Jordan Shaw. The score remained close early, but the Cardinal was unable to overcome an 8-1 run by the Gaels mid-way through the set. Saint Mary's hit .379 in the first and held Stanford to a .094 clip. Ajanaku led the team with five kills and a block. Wopat and Burgess added two kills apiece.
Stanford answered in the second set and evened the match at one set apiece with a 25-20 victory. After five tie scores and two lead changes, Stanford captured the lead 8-7 and would not relinquish it. The Cardinal ramped up its defense, posting seven blocks and 19 digs as a team. Junior Rachel Williams led the offense with five kills, while Wopat tallied four kills. Bugg racked up six digs, while Burgess and Gilbert each collected four. Outside hitter Lauren Corp paced the Gaels with four kills.
The Cardinal captured the pivotal third set, 25-21. Stanford fell behind18-16, but finished on a 9-3 run to seal the win. Both teams hit well offensively as Stanford posted a .357 clip, while SMC hit .343. Boukather led Stanford with four kills, while Ajanaku and Wopat each added three kills. Gilbert anchored the defense with seven digs in the third. Shaw led SMC with seven kills and two digs.
Stanford secured the win with a 25-19 victory in the fourth set. The Cardinal led the entire way, posting a .341 attack percentage and registering four blocks. Wopat put down five kills to lead the squad, while Boukather added four kills. Ajanaku and Burgess added three kills each. Gilbert again registered seven digs in the set. Gabby Jolly led the Gaels with five kills.
Up next, Stanford opens Pac-12 on Wednesday, Sept. 19 as it plays host to Bay Area rival California at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal will then have a quick trip to Salt Lake City as it faces Utah on Friday, Sept 21. Both matches will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.