TUCSON, Ariz. – Stanford's postseason came to a close with a 3-2 loss against Arizona on Thursday night at the Pac-12 Conference Championships.
"The University of Arizona did a tremendous job hosting the Pac-12 Championships, and it was easy to see the excitement of the student-athletes and fans," said first-year head coach Andrew Fuller. "We still have two pairs competing tomorrow, and we look forward to continuing their growth through the weekend. From a team perspective, this season has been a great experience with an unbelievable group of people."
The Cardinal (13-10 overall, 4-7 Pac-12) erased Arizona's 2-0 lead in the dual, pulling even thanks to wins in the No. 3 and No. 2 matches. Stanford's No. 3 pair of Morgan Hentz cut the deficit in half, winning by a score of 21-18, 21-18. No. 2 pair Ivana Vanjak and Payton Chang made it 2-2 with a dramatic 21-17, 14-21, 15-13 win.
It all came down to the No. 4 match, with Catherine Raquel and Shannon Richardson representing the Cardinal. The duo won the opening set, 22-20, but dropped the next two frames, 21-12, 15-11, giving the Wildcats a narrow 3-2 win.
In the No. 5 match, Chelsea Red-Horse Mohl and Kat Anderson dropped a 21-17, 21-11 decision, while top pair Kathryn Plummer and Jenna Gray lost, 21-14, 21-18.
Stanford opened the day with a 5-0 loss against Arizona State, which put the Cardinal in the contender's bracket of the double-elimination tournament. The Sun Devils took a 1-0 lead with a 21-19, 21-18 over No. 1 Plummer and Gray. Stanford's No. 5 pair of Red-Horse Mohl and Anderson lost, 21-16, 21-13, giving Arizona State a 2-0 advantage.
Stanford fought back by forcing third sets in the next three matches, but the dual was clinched when No. 4 Raquel and Richardson lost a 21-17, 18-21, 15-8 decision to give Arizona State an insurmountable 3-0 lead. No. 2 pair Chang and Vanjak lost 13-21, 21-16, 15-12 before No. 3 duo Hentz and Keefe lost, 23-21, 19-21, 15-12, to make the final score 5-0 in favor of the Sun Devils.
Stanford then faced elimination against Utah, winning in convincing fashion, 5-0. No. 1 Plummer and Gray opened the scoring with a 21-17, 21-17 win, before No. 3 Hentz and Keefe made it 2-0 with a 21-18, 21-14 win.
Stanford's No. 5 pair of Red-Horse Mohl and Anderson clinched the match with their first competitive win as a pair by a score of 21-12, 19-21, 15-10. No. 2 Vanjak and Chang fought off a first set loss to win, 17-21, 21-18, 15-9, before No. 4 pair Raquel and Richardson won, 19-21, 24-22, 15-10 to make the final score 5-0.
"Growth, gratitude and grit were all on display here in Arizona, and the rest of the squad is excited to cheer on our top two pairs tomorrow," added Fuller.
Following the completion of the team championship at 1 p.m. PT tomorrow, the Pac-12 Pairs Championship will begin at approximately 3 p.m. Stanford's top pair of Plummer and Gray, who own the seventh seed in the bracket, will face No. 10 Olivia Hallaran and Olivia MacDonald of Arizona at 4 p.m. PT in the opening round. Stanford's No. 2 pair of Vanjak and Chang, the 13th seed, face off with fourth-seeded Crissy Jones and Tia Scambray of Washington at 5 p.m. Live results will be available at GoStanford.com.
Full Scores
Arizona State 5, Stanford 0
1. Bianca Arellano/Whitney Follette (ASU) def. Jenna Gray/Kathryn Plummer (STAN) 21-19, 21-18
2. Madison Berridge/Oluoma Okaro (ASU) def. Payton Chang/Ivana Vanjak (STAN) 13-21, 21-16, 15-12
3. Katelyn Carballo/Ellyson Lyndberg (ASU) def. Morgan Hentz/Caitlin Keefe (STAN) 23-21, 19-21, 15-12
4. Kassidy Picrell/Mia Rivera (ASU) def. Shannon Richardson/Catherine Raquel (STAN) 21-17, 18-21, 15-8
5. Natalie Braun/Katie Cross (ASU) def. Chelsea Red-Horse/Kat Anderson (STAN) 21-16, 21-13
Stanford 5, Utah 0
1. Jenna Gray/Kathryn Plummer (STAN) def. Anae/Barton (UTAH), 21-17, 21-17
2. Payton Chang/Ivana Vanjak (STAN) def. Choi/Katoa (UTAH), 17-21, 21-18, 15-9
3. Morgan Hentz/Caitlin Keefe (STAN) def. Trueman/Doehrmann (UTAH), 21-18, 21-14
4. Catherine Raquel/Shannon Richardson (STAN) def. Glasker/Luafalemana (UTAH), 19-21, 24-22, 15-10
5. Chelsea Red-Horse Mohl/Kat Anderson (STAN) def. Oblad/Twohig (UTAH), 21-12, 19-21, 15-10
Arizona 3, Stanford 2
1. McKenna Witt/Madison Witt (ARIZ) def. Jenna Gray/Kathryn Plummer (STAN) 21-14, 21-18
2. Payton Chang/Ivana Vanjak (STAN) def. Olivia Macdonald/Olivia Hallaran (ARIZ) 21-17, 14-21, 15-13
3. Morgan Hentz/Caitlyn Keefe (STAN) def. Hailey Devlin/Jessica Manley (ARIZ) 21-18, 21-18
4. Brooke Burling/Mia Mason (ARIZ) def. Catherine Raquel/Shannon Richardson (STAN) 20-22, 21-12, 15-11
5. Halli Amaro/Natalie Anselmo (ARIZ) def. Chelsea Red-Horse/Kat Anderson (STAN) 21-17, 21-11
