UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 8 Stanford fired on all cylinders offensively in a 25-20, 25-17, 25-23 sweep over No. 15 Penn State, Saturday, in Rec Hall.
The Cardinal (11-7) hit a season-high .444 as a team, while holding the Nittany Lions (12-7) to a .261 clip. Stanford also turned in a solid defensive effort, totaling 26 digs and 6.0 blocks. The Cardinal capitalized on 17 Penn State hitting errors and 12 service errors, while siding out at a rate of 74 percent.
Redshirt junior opposite Clay Jones recorded a season-best 12 kills on .556 hitting to lead the Cardinal. Redshirt senior outside hitter Gabriel Vega added 10 kills on .333 hitting, while freshman Eric Beatty chipped in with eight kills and a career-high eight blocks. In total, Stanford's pin hitters posted 30 of the team's 41 kills Saturday.
Junior setter Kyle Dagostino directed the offense with 34 assists, while collecting seven digs, a kill, an ace and a solo block. Redshirt junior middle blocker Kevin Rakestraw hit .500 with seven kills, while freshman middle blocker Stephen Moye had three kills on .600 hitting. Rakestraw and Moye each also notched two blocks and an ace. Junior libero Evan Enriques finished with six digs and three assists.
Penn State was led by Aidan Albrecht's 11 kills on .381 hitting. Jalen Penrose added 10 kills and two blocks, while Matt Callaway totaled six kills and three blocks for the Nittany Lions.
Stanford remains on the road next week, traveling to No. 4 Hawai'i for a pair of MPSF matches on March 10-11.