STANFORD, Calif. – Playing at home for the first time in 26 days, the seventh-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team defeated No. 19 Colorado, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, Friday in Maples Pavilion.
The Cardinal moves to 10-3 overall and 4-1 in the Pac-12, while the Buffaloes fall to 10-5 and 2-3 in the conference. Stanford, which leads the nation in blocks per set, totaled 18.0 in the four sets and held Colorado to a .155 attack percentage.
Stanford shook up its lineup, starting Kathryn Plummer on the outside and Tami Alade in the middle. It paid off as Plummer notched her first career double-double with a match-high 15 kills and a career-best 16 digs. She also tallied five blocks and her first collegiate ace. Alade, a sophomore from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, finished with a career-high nine blocks and five kills.
Redshirt junior opposite Merete Lutz hit a team-high .407 with 12 kills and just one error on 27 swings. She also collected five blocks and two digs. Freshman Audriana Fitzmorris added nine kills and four blocks, while redshirt senior Inky Ajanaku had eight kills, seven blocks and the first two aces of her career.
The Cardinal continued to utilize a 6-2, with senior setter Kelsey Humphreys posting 25 assists and seven digs, while freshman setter Jenna Gray totaled 23 assists and six digs. Freshman libero Morgan Hentz racked-up 15 digs and three assists, while defensive specialist Halland McKenna was the third Cardinal player with double-digit digs (11).
Stanford jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the opening set and never looked back, hitting .538. The offense cooled off after the first, but the defense remained intact. The Cardinal's 18.0 blocks were its most in a four-set match this season.
Colorado was led by sophomore outside hitter Alexa Smith's 11 kills and 13 digs. Junior middle blocker Anna Pfefferle hit a match-best .545 with six kills and five blocks, while junior Stephanie Shadley finished with a match-high 17 digs.
Up next, Stanford plays host to Utah on Sunday, Oct. 9. First serve between the Cardinal and Utes is slated for 1 p.m. from Maples Pavilion.
Photo by Bob Drebin, ISI Photography