Dec. 9, 2012
BERKELEY, Calif. - The No. 2 Stanford women's volleyball team fell to Michigan, 25-20, 20-25, 20-25, 20-25, Saturday in the Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif. The Cardinal, which has lost to the Wolverines three out of the last four seasons in the tournament, ends the year 30-4 overall.
Junior middle blocker Carly Wopat led the team with 13 kills, while also posting six blocks and two digs. Freshman middle blocker Inky Ajanaku led the Cardinal with eight blocks and also put down 11 kills in the match. Freshman outside hitter Jordan Burgess registered her team-best 13th double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs along with three assists and two blocks. Freshman setter Madi Bugg posted 30 assists, 10 digs and five blocks in the contest for her 12th double-double on the season. The team recorded a .269 attacking percentage along with 64 digs and 15 blocks.
The Wolverines were powered by junior outside hitter Lexi Erwin. She had 23 kills and 16 digs, and also was named the Berkeley Regional's Most Valuable Player. Sophomore setter Lexi Dannemiller posted 59 assists along with six digs and three kills.
The Cardinal gained an early advantage against the Wolverines, capturing the first set 25-20. Ajanaku and Bugg had four blocks in the defensive effort, while Wopat and junior outside hitter Rachel Williams recorded three kills each. The team posted 13 digs, six blocks, and hit .222 in the first set, while holding the Wolverines to an attack percentage of just .051. Erwin led the Wolverines with seven kills in the set.
The Wolverines flipped the switch and took the early lead in the second set. The Cardinal continued to battle and came within a two-point differential midway through the set, but Michigan maintained prevailed 25-20. Michigan's strong attack guided them in the second set recording 20 kills and an attacking percentage of .347. Ajanaku had four kills and a block, hitting .429 in the set. Burgess also had four kills and three digs. Senior opposite hitter Claire McElheny and junior outside hitter Molly Toon led the Wolverines with five kills apiece in the set.
The third set was tight early, but Michigan would reel off four consecutive points when the set was tied 9-9 forcing a Stanford timeout. The Cardinal was unable to regain control and surrendered the third set 25-20. Michigan's middle blocker Jennifer Cross led with seven kills in the third set, while Erwin continued her balanced play with five kills and five digs. Wopat posted four kills and three blocks, and had an attack percentage of .500. Freshman outside hitter Brittany Howard also had two kills and led the team with four digs.
Michigan sealed the win with a 25-20 win in the fourth set. The Wolverines gained control of the set from the 10-10 mark and did not let off the gas, posting 16 kills. Erwin led Michigan with seven kills in the final set. Wopat paced the Cardinal with four kills, and Howard and Burgess also registered three kills apiece. Sophomore libero Kyle Gilbert also had five digs in the set.
Stanford concludes its season with a Pac-12 Conference championship and a seventh Regional Final appearance under head coach John Dunning. Wopat, Ajanaku, and Burgess were selected to the Berkeley Regional's All-Tournament team.