STANFORD, Calif. – A balanced offense directed by freshman setter Paul Bischoff led the eighth-ranked Stanford men's volleyball team to a 25-19, 25-17, 25-20 win over visiting USC, Thursday, in Maples Pavilion.
Bischoff finished with 17 assists as the Cardinal (5-2, 2-0 MPSF) hit .304 as a team, limiting itself to just nine attack errors in the match. USC (2-6, 1-4 MPSF) was held to a .070 attack percentage and amassed 27 hitting errors.
Redshirt junior middle blocker Kevin Rakestraw led all players with nine kills on .615 hitting and a season-best six blocks. Redshirt senior Gabriel Vega added six kills, two aces and two blocks, while sophomore opposite Matt Klassen totaled five kills, four blocks, three digs and an ace.
This ace by Vega sealed the second set for Stanford, 25-17. Cardinal lead USC 2-0. Watch on @Pac12Network https://t.co/rEliEd4t6c
— Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) January 27, 2017
Junior Kyle Dagostino came off the bench in all three sets to serve and stayed in to set, sparking the Cardinal offense down the stretch. The Tampa, Florida native finished with nine assists, two digs and a block.
Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Ewert, Stanford's leading scorer, was limited to just four kills, but picked it up defensively with a match-high nine digs. Freshman middle blocker Stephen Moye racked-up five blocks, while freshman opposite Mason Tufuga added three kills on .333 hitting off the bench. Junior libero Evan Enriques recorded six digs and two assists.
Freshmen Bischoff & Moye team up for this block, giving Stanford a 12-6 lead. TO USC. Watch on @Pac12Network https://t.co/a7PLfJxcJo
— Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) January 27, 2017
USC had three players tally eight kills to lead the Trojans, including Andy Benesh who hit .615. Fourteen USC players appeared in at least one set.
The Trojans finished with more kills, assists and aces than the Cardinal, but Stanford's 11.0 team blocks and 30 digs forced USC into errors it was unable to overcome.
Stanford closes out the week on Friday, Jan. 27 at home against Cal Baptist. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Maples Pavilion.