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Beach Volleyball

A Perfect Start

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STANFORD, Calif. – No. 13 Stanford opened its 2017 campaign with wins over Santa Clara and Cal Poly on Saturday at the Stanford Sand Volleyball Stadium.

"Karissa, Lauren and I were thrilled with the team's response to adversity today," said first-year head coach Andrew Fuller. "A cornerstone of this program is leaning into those moments and seeing through the fog of less than ideal performances."

The Cardinal started the day with a 5-0 win against Santa Clara, with all matches ending in two sets. No. 5 pair Courtney Bowen and Kat Anderson started the dual with a 21-11, 21-19 win. The No. 3 pair of Catherine Raquel and Shannon Richardson followed with a 21-18, 21-12 win, before No. 4 Morgan Hentz and Caitlin Keefe clinched the match at 3-0.

No. 2 pair Ivana Vanjak and Payton Chang dominated their match, winning 21-9, 21-11. Kathryn Plummer and Jenna Gray completed the sweep at the No. 1 position, winning 21-13, 24-22.


Stanford made it two wins on opening day with a 4-1 win against Cal Poly in the day's final dual. Playing with an unchanged lineup, Stanford got off to a strong start in the No. 5 match courtesy of Bowen and Anderson, who won 21-14, 21-10.

Raquel and Richardson backed it up with a three-set win, 21-16, 24-22, 15-10. Hentz and Keefe also fought off a loss in the second set to clinch in the third – their match finished 21-15, 18-21, 15-10.

Cal Poly got a point back in the No. 1 match, as Plummer and Gray dropped a 21-18, 21-17 decision. Vanjak and Chang closed out the final match of the day, claiming a 21-11, 21-16 win at the No. 2 spot.


"Cal Poly and Santa Clara brought the fire at every flight, and each of our pairs had to grapple with challenging situations when they weren't playing their best," added Fuller. "We are excited for each opponent to challenge us and make us play with great togetherness this season."

Stanford returns to action Sunday with dual matches against Saint Mary's at Noon PT and Pacific at 3 p.m. Admission is free, and live updates will be available at GoStanford.com.Full Scores
Cal Poly 4, Pacific 1
1. Sonny/Hubbard (CP) def. Elman/Shelton (Pac.) 14-21, 21-12, 15-6
2. Gotterba/LaBass (Pac.) def. Griesen/Pembroke (CP) 23-21, 21-15
3. Van Winden/Gorman (CP) def. Baptista/Poncetta (Pac.) 21-13, 21-14
4. Gruenwald/Gruenwald (CP) def. Feldsher/Holt (Pac.) 21-13, 21-15
5. Beilin/Boege (CP) def. Fleming/Wine (Pac.) 19-21, 21-17, 15-8

Saint Mary's 4, Santa Clara 1
1. Knudsen/Rund (SMC) def. Hess/Kantor (SCU) 21-7, 21-11
2. Mead/Cunningham (SCU) def. Hernandez/Calvin (SMC) 21-15, 21-17
3. Bible/Chase (SMC) def. Lindberg/Laugero (SCU) 21-12, 21-12
4. Salmons/Parker (SMC) def. San Juan/Gajdka (SCU) 21-15, 21-18
5. Wilkerson/O'Sullvian (SMC) def. Nwabuzoh/Reineking (SCU) 15-21, 21-17, 15-12
Exh. Dodd/Young (SMC) def. Willems/Jones (SCU) 21-10, 21-14

Stanford 5, Santa Clara 0
1. Plummer/Gray (Stan) def. Hess/Kantor (SCU) 21-13, 24-22
2. Vanjak/Chang (Stan) def. Mead/Cunningham (SCU) 21-9, 21-11
3. Raquel/Richardson (Stan) def. Lindberg/Laugero (SCU) 21-18, 21-12
4. Hentz/Keefe (Stan) def. San Juan/Gajdka (SCU) 21-15, 21-19
5. Bowen/Anderson (Stan) def. Nwabuzoh/Reineking (SCU) 21-14, 21-15
Exh. Mohl/DiSanto (Stan) def. Willems/Jones (SCU) 21-11, 21-19

Cal 3, Pacific 2
1. Elman/Shelton (Pac.) def. Bark/Merino (Cal) 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
2. Gotterba/LaBass (Pac.) def. Campbell/Rodberg (Cal) 21-14, 14-21, 15-10
3. Gaffney/Stepanof (Cal) def. Baptista/Poncetta (Pac.) 17-21, 21-13, 15-10
4. Lindahl/Anderson (Cal) def. Feldsher/Holt (Pac.) 21-19, 21-19
5. Neff/Gustafson (Cal) def. Fleming/Wine (Pac.) 21-9, 21-12

Stanford 4, Cal Poly 1
1. Sonny/Hubbard (CP) def. Plummer/Gray (Stan) v 21-18, 21-17
2. Vanjak/Chang (Stan) def. Van Winden/Gorman (CP) 21-11, 21-16
3. Raquel/Richardson (Stan) def. Griesen/Pembroke (CP) 21-16, 22-24, 15-10
4. Hentz/Keefe (Stan) def. Gruenwald/Gruenwald (CP) 21-15, 18-21, 15-10
5. Bowen/Anderson (Stan) def. Beilin/Boege (CP) 21-14, 21-10

Cal 3, Saint Mary's 2
1. Knudsen/Rund (SMC) def. Bark/Merino (Cal) 21-18, 21-13
2. Campbell/Rodberg (Cal) def. Hernandez/Calvin (SMC) 21-10, 21-15
3. Bible/Chase (SMC) def. Gaffney/Setpanof (Cal) 21-17, 21-23, 15-8
4. Lindahl/Anderson (Cal) def. Salmons/Parker (SMC) 20-22, 21-17, 15-13
5. Neff/Gustafson (Cal) def. Wilkerson/Young (SMC) 21-15, 21-16