April 2, 2013
STANFORD, Calif. - The 10th-ranked Stanford women's sand volleyball team opened its inaugural season with a 4-1 win over Santa Clara, Tuesday, at the ACSR Sand Volleyball Courts in Stanford, Calif.
Four of Stanford's five pairs earned wins in their debuts, while the fifth pair pushed its opponents to extra points in the deciding third set.
Stanford's No. 1 doubles team of Jordan Burgess and Carly Wopat secured the first win of the afternoon defeating Santa Clara's Taylor Milton and Dani Rottman, 21-18, 21-15. Wopat finished with 12 kills and nine digs, while Burgess turned in nine kills and 24 digs.
Madi Bugg and Brittany Howard followed up with a three-set win over Kat Douglas and Sarah Vocano (17-21, 21-19, 15-9) to give the Cardinal the 2-0 lead in the match. Bugg put down an ace on match point to seal the win, totaling 10 kills, 19 digs and three aces. Howard added 15 kills, 12 digs and three aces.
In arguably the most competitive match of the afternoon, Santa Clara's No. 2 team of Haley Cameron and Alyssa Anderson posted a 23-25, 21-17, 17-15 win over Stanford's Kyle Gilbert and Rachel Williams. Gilbert notched 10 kills and 14 digs, while Williams tallied 18 kills.
Morgan Boukather and Megan McGehee clinched the win for the Cardinal with a 21-15, 21-19 decision over Kim Meyers and Lacey Maas.
Inky Ajanaku and Mary Ellen Luck also picked up a win for Stanford, defeating Katy Schatzman and Chloe Sliger, 21-16, 21-13. Ajanaku tured in 19 kills, 14 digs and three aces, while Luck added nine kills, 18 digs and three aces.
Among those in attendance for the inaugural match were Stanford alums and Indianapolis Colts teammates Andrew Luck and Coby Fleener, former Cardinal running back Stepfan Taylor and former Stanford women's volleyball player Cynthia Barboza.
The Cardinal will travel to Sacramento, Calif., for the Sacramento State tournament on Sunday, April 7. Stanford will face the host Hornets at Noon and Saint Mary's at 3 p.m.
Stanford 4, Santa Clara 1 - Order of Finish
1) Jordan Burgess/Carly Wopat (SU) def. Taylor Milton/Dani Rottman (SCU), 21-18, 21-15
3) Madi Bugg/Brittany Howard (SU) def. Kat Douglas/Sarah Vocano (SCU), 17-21, 21-19, 15-9
2) Haley Cameron/Alyssa Anderson (SCU) def. Kyle Gilbert/Rachel Williams (SU), 23-25, 21-17, 17-15
5) Morgan Boukather/Megan McGehee (SU) def. Lacey Maas/Kim Meyers (SCU), 21-15, 21-19
4) Inky Ajanaku/Mary Ellen Luck (SU) def. Katy Schatzman/Chloe Sliger (SCU), 21-16, 21-13
Stanford Sand Volleyball Firsts:
Serve: Burgess
Ace: Howard
Kill: Wopat
Point: Burgess/Wopat (on SCU attack error - out long)
Pass: Bugg
Block: Wopat
Set victory: Burgess/Wopat
Match victory: Burgess/Wopat (21-18 21-15)
3-set win: Bugg/Howard (17-21 21-19, 15-9)
Match Clinchers: Boukather/McGehee (21-15, 21-19)