| LINESCORE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | F | |
| Arizona State (16-9, 6-7) | 11 | 16 | 25 | 25 | 11 | 2 |
| Stanford (23-0, 13-0) | 25 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 3 |
| STAT COMPARISON | ||
|---|---|---|
| ASU | STAN | |
| Kills | 50 | 69 |
| Attack pct. | .137 | .261 |
| Assists | 47 | 65 |
| Aces | 2 | 5 |
| Digs | 74 | 93 |
| Blocks | 12.0 | 11.0 |
STANFORD, Calif. – In what looked like it was going to be a quick night for the top-ranked Stanford women’s volleyball team, the 20th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils had other plans. The Cardinal showed poise down the stretch in its fourth five-set match of the season, pulling out a 25-11, 25-16, 22-25, 22-25, 15-11 win over the Sun Devils, Wednesday, at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif.
Stanford, which improved to 23-0 and 13-0 in the Pac-12 Conference, made quick work of Arizona State in the first two sets. The Sun Devils (16-9, 6-7 Pac-12) came out the intermission with a different mindset and strategy that took the Cardinal out of its rhythm.
Stanford, which hit .261 for the match, found itself down 7-4 in the fifth set. The Cardinal dug deep and closed out the match outscoring the Sun Devils 11-4. Junior middle blocker Inky Ajanaku sparked the run, finishing 4-for-4 in the set. Junior setter Madi Bugg registered two key kills in the fifth, including a one-handed joust at the net that was won on pure strength.
For the match, Stanford finished with 69 kills, 11.0 blocks and tied its season-best with 93 digs. Senior libero Kyle Gilbert anchored the defensive effort with a season high 31 digs, her first 30-dig performance of the season. Junior Brittany Howard added a season high 16 digs for the Cardinal.
Ajanaku finished with 20 kills on a .457 attack percentage to go with a team high six blocks. Junior outside hitter Jordan Burgess collected her team-best 14th double-double with 16 kills and 17 digs, while redshirt freshman middle blocker Merete Lutz totaled 11 kills and five blocks.
Bugg also recorded a double-double, her 11th of the season, with 54 assists and 13 digs. She tied her career high with seven kills, none bigger than the two in the fifth set, and had four blocks. Senior opposite Morgan Boukather finished with eight kills and nine digs, while junior Megan McGehee put down two aces, including one in the fifth set.
Arizona State was led by junior outside hitter Macey Gardner’s 21 kills and 13 digs. Junior Mercedes Binns added 12 kills on a .375 hitting percentage, while freshman libero Halle Harker finished with 23 digs.
Stanford closes out the homestand on Friday, Nov. 7 against 16th-ranked Arizona. The Cardinal and Wildcats will meet at 7:30 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks.