BOULDER, Colo. – The No. 1 Stanford women’s volleyball team fought back to defeat a tough Colorado squad, 18-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 15-7, Friday, at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Colo. The Cardinal (17-0, 7-0 Pac-12) ties its best start to a season since 2007.
After hitting .189 in the opening set, Stanford turned things around and finished with a .319 attack percentage. The Cardinal also played gritty defense down the stretch, finishing with 71 digs and nine blocks. Colorado (11-8, 3-4 Pac-12) hit .227 and finished with 63 digs and six blocks.
Stanford was led by junior middle blocker Inky Ajanaku’s 16 kills on a .481 hitting percentage and five blocks. Senior opposite Morgan Boukather totaled 13 kills and eight digs, while junior outside hitter Brittany Howard had a season high 12 kills, five digs and tied her season high with five blocks.
Junior setter Madi Bugg controlled the offense with 51 assists while tying her career high with 17 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. The Apex, N.C., native also registered a career high seven kills. Junior outside hitter Jordan Burgess notched her team-best ninth double-double of the year with 10 kills and a season high 19 digs. Senior libero Kyle Gilbert finished with 16 digs.
Colorado was led by senior Taylor Simpson’s 22 kills and 14 digs, while Alexis Austin added 16 kills. Libero Cierra Simpson totaled a match-best 23 digs.
Stanford completes its road trip on Sunday, Oct. 19 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Cardinal will face the Utah Utes at the Huntsman Center at 1 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.