BOULDER, Colo. – Playing with another new lineup, No. 4 Stanford escaped with a 20-25, 25-13, 27-29, 29-27, 15-12 victory over No. 25 Colorado, Sunday, at the Coors Events Center.
It was a new look for the Cardinal as sophomore Audriana Fitzmorris had to miss the first match of her career due to injury. Redshirt senior Merete Lutz found herself back at middle blocker, a position she played her first two seasons at Stanford, while Kathryn Plummer made the adjustment back to the right side.
Stanford (9-2, 2-0 Pac-12) hit .282 as a team after struggling for most of the first set. The Cardinal finished with season-highs as a team in digs (74) and blocks (15.0). Colorado (10-3, 0-2 Pac-12) finished with a .181 attack percentage and 9.0 blocks.
Four Cardinal players finished with double-digit kills and four with double-digit digs. Plummer notched her fourth double-double of the season with 18 kills and a career-high 19 digs. The Aliso Viejo, California native also had a season-best six blocks and two aces.
Junior middle blocker Tami Alade finished with career-highs in kills (17) and blocks (9) while hitting .483. Her previous career-best in kills was seven. Lutz chipped in with season-highs in kills (17), blocks (5) and hitting percentage (.625).
Freshman Meghan McClure also tallied double-digit kills, totaling 10 and had a career-high 14 digs for her first collegiate double-double. Sophomore libero Morgan Hentz finished with 18 digs, four assists and her first kill of the season.
Sophomore setter Jenna Gray controlled the offense with a career-high 64 assists to go with three kills and two blocks. Redshirt freshman Michaela Keefe recorded seven kills for Stanford, while junior Payton Chang notched her first career ace.
Junior outside hitter Alexa Smith led Colorado with 25 kills and 12 digs, while senior opposite Joslyn Hayes posted 16 kills. Junior Frankie Shebby also had a double-double for the Buffaloes with 12 kills and 11 digs.
Stanford moved to 18-1 all-time against Colorado. The Buffaloes are the only team besides Penn State to win a set against the Cardinal this season.
Stanford returns to The Farm next week to host Arizona State on Wednesday and Arizona on Friday. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks.
Feast your ?? on this strong finish by No. 4 @StanfordWVB in today's match at Colorado. #Pac12VB pic.twitter.com/B1CXD6YfXa
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 24, 2017