STANFORD, Calif. – Four player registered double-digit kills as the ninth-ranked Stanford women's volleyball team defeated USC, Thursday, at Maples Pavilion.
The Cardinal (17-6, 11-4) remain in a three-way tie for first place in the Pac-12 Conference with UCLA and Washington with five matches remaining. The Trojans drop to 16-10 overall and 8-7 in conference.
As a team, Stanford hit .309 while holding USC to a .229 clip. The Cardinal, which leads the nation in blocks per set, posted 14.0 whereas the Trojans tallied 8.0. USC finished with more kills (59 to 58), aces (6 to 2) and digs (57 to 50).
Redshirt senior Inky Ajanaku and freshman Kathryn Plummer each recorded 13 kills in the win. Ajanaku hit .500 (13-3-20) and collected a match-high eight blocks, while Plummer had six digs, three blocks and two assists. Freshman middle blocker Audriana Fitzmorris added 12 kills on a .360 attack percentage, five blocks and three digs. Redshirt junior Ivana Vanjak was the fourth player with double-digit kills, finishing with 10 (.320) and three blocks.
Freshman setter Jenna Gray racked-up a career-high 54 assists, seven digs, two blocks and two kills. She also put down a career-best two aces, Stanford's only two of the night. Freshman libero Morgan Hentz continued her stellar defensive play, securing 26 digs. It was one off of her career-high and the eighth time this season she has reached the 20-dig plateau.
Hustle plays by @HentzMorgan lead to kills, this one a nicely-placed tip by Fitzmorris. 18-12 Card in the 2nd #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/g21pmCXYnY
— Stanford Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) November 11, 2016
Opposite Merete Lutz posted eight kills on 25 errorless swings to hit .320. She also notched five blocks. Sophomore defensive specialist Halland McKenna chipped in defensively with five digs.
USC was led by freshman outside hitter Khalia Lanier's double-double of 18 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Alyse Ford added 14 kills and eight digs, while middle blocker Elise Ruddins had 10 kills on .353 hitting and three blocks.
Stanford wraps-up the week on Saturday, Nov. 12 against No. 13 UCLA. First serve from Maples Pavilion is slated for 7 p.m. PT. The match will be live streamed for free on Twitter.