LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Stanford’s season came to a close with a 3-2 loss against Washington in the Pac-12 Conference Championships Saturday at Merle Norman Stadium.
“Today was a tough loss to end the season,” said head coach Denise Corlett. “Washington is very strong in their top two pairs and I thought our teams fought hard to the end. We started off slow but were able to get a split in the first two matches. Merete Lutz and Halland McKenna also played another solid match.”
The Cardinal (5-12 overall, 2-4 Pac-12) were led by No. 3 pair Merete Lutz and Halland McKenna’s 12th win of the season by a score of 21-10, 21-7. In its two matches at the Pac-12 Championship, the duo did not allow an opponent past 14 points in four sets of play.
That match-clinching feeling 👌 #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/0nHzt5Aduw
— Stanford Beach VB (@StanfordBeachVB) April 30, 2016
Stanford also got a big contribution from No. 4 pair Courtney Bowen and Jennifer DiSanto. After dropping the first set 21-15, the freshmen stormed back with a 21-19 win in the second and a match-clinching 15-13 third set.
No. 5 pair Tami Alade and Karina Robinson battled back after losing their first set, eventually falling in three sets, 21-16, 21-13, 15-9. Top pair Hayley Hodson and Payton Chang dropped their match 21-19, 21-15, before No. 2 pair Ivana Vanjak and Catherine Raquel fell 21-18, 21-19, allowing the Huskies (3-5, 2-1) to clinch the match, 3-2.
A photo posted by Stanford Beach Volleyball (@stanfordbeachvb) on Apr 30, 2016 at 1:25pm PDT
Stanford was matched up against Washington in the Contenders Bracket after both teams lost their opening round matches. Yesterday, the Cardinal dropped a 4-1 decision to Arizona.
“I felt we were right there in almost every match this year,” said Corlett. “This was a good season for these student-athletes and they all improved throughout the year.”
Full Scores
1. Crissy Jones/Tia Scambray (Washington) def. Hayley Hodson/Payton Chang (Stanford) 21-19, 21-15
2. Courtney Schwan/Cassie Strickland (Washington) def. Ivana Vanjak/Catherine Raquel (Stanford) 21-18, 21-19
3. Merete Lutz/Halland McKenna (Stanford) def. Jade Finau/Lianna Sybeldon (Washington) 21-10, 21-7
4. Courtney Bowen/Jennifer DiSanto (Stanford) def. Justice MacGraw/Melanie Wade (Washington) 15-21, 21-19, 15-13
5. Lindsay Chalmers/Destiny Julye (Washington) def. Tami Alade/Karina Robinson (Stanford) 21-16, 21-23, 15-9