RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Jordan Ewert and Gabriel Vega combined for 31 of Stanford's 50 kills in a 25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 25-16, 15-11 win at Cal Baptist, Saturday at Van Dyne Gym.
It marked the third time this season in which the sixth-ranked Cardinal (9-5, 6-3 MPSF) rallied back from a deficit to win in five sets. Stanford out hit Cal Baptist .356 to .306, and held advantages in blocks (6.5-5.0) and service aces (7-5).
With the match tied 1-1, Cal Baptist (3-11, 1-9 MPSF) won the pivotal third set putting Stanford's backs up against the figurative wall. The Cardinal limited its offensive errors in the final two sets, while holding the Lancers to a combined .047 hitting percentage.
Ewert recorded a team-high 16 kills on .306 hitting to go with five digs, three aces and three blocks. Vega added 15 kills on a season-best .481 attack percentage and a season-high seven digs.
Stanford tweaked its lineup in the fourth and fifth sets with freshman Paul Bischoff starting at setter and freshman Eric Beatty replacing Mason Tufuga at opposite. Bischoff, who took over for junior Kyle Dagostino (19 assists), notched 20 assists, two kills, two digs and two blocks, while Beatty hit .750 with six kills on eight errorless swings to go with five digs.
Stanford's middle blockers, redshirt junior Kevin Rakestraw and freshman Stephen Moye, combined for eight kills and six blocks. Junior libero Evan Enriques collected five digs and matched his career-high with five assists. Enriques' younger brother, Emmett, had two digs, an assist and a kill for the Lancers.
Cal Baptist was led by Kevin Vaz, who tallied a match-high 25 kills. Luis Palos chipped in with 11 kills, six digs and three blocks, while Rohit Paul turned in nine kills and 10 digs for the Lancers.
Stanford returns to the Farm to play host to No. 3 BYU for a pair of matches next week. The Cardinal and Cougars will square off on Thursday, Feb. 23 in Maples Pavilion and on Friday, Feb. 24 in Burnham Pavilion.
