STANFORD, Calif. – The third-ranked Stanford women’s volleyball team opened the 2013 NCAA Tournament with a 25-10, 25-10, 25-11, sweep over Hampton, Thursday, at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal improves to 25-5 overall and extends it winning streak to 10 matches, while the Lady Pirates end their season 19-11.
Stanford was clicking on cylinders, posting a .452 attack percentage to go with nine blocks in its 20th sweep of the season. Hampton, which was making its first NCAA postseason appearance, finished with a .022 hitting percentage and two blocks. Stanford is now 33-0 in first round matches in the NCAA Tournament.
Stanford senior Carly Wopat led the Cardinal with 11 kills on 15 swings with no errors to hit .733. She also collected a match-high six blocks, and is just two away from 600 for her career. Sophomore middle blocker Inky Ajanaku finished with 10 kills on 14 attempts with no errors, hitting .714. Senior Rachel Williams added nine kills on a .538 hitting percentage to go with five digs and four blocks.
Sophomore setter Madi Bugg guided the Cardinal offense, which finished with 43 kills, totaling 28 assists and five digs. Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Burgess registered seven kills and eight digs for Stanford, while junior libero Kyle Gilbert notched eight digs, five assists and tied her career high with three aces.
Hampton was led by junior Vendula Strakova who tallied 11 kills and nine digs. Senior libero Sheileen Pagan finished with a match high 11 digs for the Lady Pirates.
Stanford will face Oklahoma, which defeated Alabama earlier in the evening, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6. First serve from Maples Pavilion is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.