MORAGA, Calif. – Playing in its first true road match of the season, the 12th-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team swept Saint Mary's, 25-19, 25-17, 25-12, Friday at McKeon Pavilion.
The Cardinal (5-2) hit a season-high .333, while totaling 12.0 blocks and six aces as a team. Saint Mary's (5-5) was held to a .073 hitting percentage due in large part to 23 attack errors. Stanford also picked up its defensive intensity out-digging the Gaels 56-39.
Freshman opposite Kathryn Plummer led the team with 10 kills on a career-high .556 attack percentage and five kills. Fellow rookie Audriana Fitzmorris added eight kills on .353 hitting, six blocks and an ace. Redshirt senior Inky Ajanaku was a perfect 6-0-6 (1.000) and also collected six blocks, while Merete Lutz added four kills and five blocks.
Freshman Michaela Keefe made her first collegiate start, playing in place of an injured Hayley Hodson. She finished with four kills and a career-high 10 digs. She was subbed out in the third set for twin sister, Caitlin, who earned the first playing time of her career.
Sophomore Tami Alade also entered a match for the first time this season, coming in at middle in the third and sealing the win with an emphatic kill.
Freshman libero Morgan Hentz held down the back row with a match-high 15 digs, while defensive specialist Halland McKenna, who made her first start of the season, totaled seven digs and an ace. Setters Jenna Gray and Kelsey Humphreys finished with 23 and 12 assists, respectively. Outside hitter Ivana Vanjak turned in five kills and four digs.
Saint Mary's was led by Lindsey Calvin and Lindsey Knudsen, who both tallied eight kills. Sarah Chase and Aubrey Pitts had seven kills each for the Gaels, while libero Emily Bible finished with 10 digs.
Stanford will play its final nonconference match at Pacific on Saturday, Sept. 17. First serve between the Cardinal and Tigers is slated for 7 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center.
