BERKELEY, Calif. – Behind freshman opposite Kathryn Plummer, the 11th-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team defeated rival California, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24, 25-13, Tuesday, in the Pac-12 opener for both squads at Haas Pavilion.
Plummer led Stanford (7-2, 1-0 Pac-12) with a career-high 16 kills on a .538 attack percentage and five blocks. Freshman outside hitter Michaela Keefe, who started her third match in place of an injured Hayley Hodson, registered her first collegiate double-double with a career-best 13 kills on .435 hitting and 10 digs.
Stanford out hit California (6-5, 0-1 Pac-12) .307 to .179, and held a 12.0-8.0 advantage in blocks. Both teams recorded 49 digs, while the Cardinal held a 4-3 advantage in aces. For the first time this season, Stanford dropped the opening set when it was edged 25-23 by the Golden Bears.
Redshirt junior Ivana Vanjak also tallied double-digit kills for Stanford, totaling 11 to go with four digs and an ace. Redshirt senior Inky Ajanaku chipped in with nine kills and seven blocks, while Merete Lutz and Audriana Fitzmorris both notched seven kills.
Senior setter Kelsey Humphreys finished one dig shy of a double-double, totaling 26 assists. Freshman setter Jenna Gray added 25 assists and seven digs. Freshman libero Morgan Hentz registered a team-best 13 digs and three assists.
The Bears were led by freshman Bailee Huizenga, who recorded a career-high 19 kills on .567 hitting. Junior Christine Alftin totaled 12 kills, 11 digs and three blocks for Cal, while senior libero Maddy Kerr had a match-high 15 digs.
Stanford continues conference play on the road this week, travelling to Oregon State on Friday, Sept. 23. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Bay Area and Pac-12 Oregon. The Cardinal is a perfect 63-0 all-time against the Beavers.