Stanford Swept at UCLA

Box Score

LOS ANGELES – The 13th-ranked Stanford men’s volleyball team dropped a 27-25, 25-22, 25-21 decision to No. 9 UCLA, Thursday, at the Wooden Center in Los Angeles. The Cardinal falls to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, while the Bruins picked up their first MPSF win (1-3) and improve to 5-3 on the season.

UCLA held Stanford to a .165 attack percentage while posting a .245 clips. The Bruins also won the blocking battle, 10.0 to 7.0, and the serve and pass game with eight aces to just three by the Cardinal.

"UCLA did a nice job getting its blockers in place and slowing us down tonight," said head coach John Kosty.

A bright spot for Stanford was redshirt freshman opposite Clay Jones, who registered a career high 16 kills on a .520 attack percentage. He started the match 10-0-10 offensively to keep the Cardinal close. He also racked up seven digs and an ace.

"I thought Clay had a great match for us tonight," said Kosty. "I think he portrayed how we have to play every night. He was physical and came in and played within himself. He did a nice job out there."

Junior middle blocker Conrad Kaminski finished with seven kills on .357 hitting and two blocks. Junior setter James Shaw posted 25 assists, six digs and three kills. 

Stanford was never able to get its pin hitters going as Daniel Tublin, Madison Hayden and Evan Enriques combined for just three kills on the night.

UCLA was led by freshman outside hitters Jake Arnitz and Christian Hassenauer, who had 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Another rookie, J.T. Hatch, finished with eight kills and five blocks for the Bruins.

Up next, Stanford travels up the coast to Santa Barbara, Calif., to face the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Saturday, Jan. 31. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. PT from Rob Gym.