STANFORD, Calif. – For the seventh consecutive year, the second-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team won its season opener, sweeping Texas A&M (25-19, 25-19, 25-15), Friday, at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California.
Playing its season opener at home for the first time since 2006, Stanford is now 14-1 in its debuts under head coach John Dunning. The Cardinal, which had plenty of new faces on the court, hit .320 for the match while holding the Aggies to a .160 clip.
Senior outside hitters Jordan Burgess and Brittany Howard led the way with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Burgess hit .429 with three blocks, while Howard registered a .478 attack percentage to go with four digs and three blocks.
Stanford opened the match with three freshmen in the starting lineup, including opposite Hayley Hodson. The Newport Beach, California native recorded a double-double in her first collegiate match, totaling 10 kills and 11 digs. Middle blocker Tami Alade (Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada) and libero Halland McKenna (Laguna Beach, California) also earned the starting nods in their collegiate debuts. Alade finished with a kill and two blocks, while McKenna racked up nine digs.
Even without All-America middle blockers Inky Ajanaku, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and Merete Lutz, who suffered an injury to her hand during the preseason, the Cardinal posted 11 team blocks, led by redshirt sophomore Ivana Vanjak's career high eight.
Senior setter Madi Bugg tallied 28 assists, seven digs, four kills and four blocks for the Cardinal. Sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Benjamin made her first collegiate start and collected five digs.
Texas A&M was led by senior outside hitter Angela Lowak's 13 kills on a .375 attack percentage. She was the lone Aggie to register double-digit kills on the night.
Stanford wraps-up the weekend against Minnesota on Sunday, Aug. 30. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. from Maples Pavilion.