Defense Stifles ‘CatsDefense Stifles ‘Cats
Al Chang/Stanford Athletics
Women's Volleyball

Defense Stifles ‘Cats

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STANFORD, Calif. – Jenna Gray recorded a career-high eight blocks as No. 2 Stanford posted a 25-21, 25-21, 25-7 win over Arizona, Friday, at Maples Pavilion.
 
 It marked the sixth straight win for the Cardinal (11-2, 4-0 Pac-12), which recorded 14.0 blocks as a team. Ten of Stanford's 11 wins on the season have come in straight sets.
 
Gray, who is the Pac-12 leader in assists per set (11.61), dished out 35 against the Wildcats. Sophomore outside hitter Kathryn Plummer led the team with 12 kills on .423 hitting.
 
Sophomore Audriana Fitzmorris added nine kills on 14 swings with just one error to hit .571, while junior Tami Alade hit .500 with seven kills. Both middle blockers collected six blocks in the match.
 
Sophomore libero Morgan Hentz recorded a match-best 17 digs, while freshman defensive specialist Kate Formico had six digs.
 


Leading 17-7 in the third set, Formico served eight straight points to close out the match. The Wildcats' seven points were the lowest set total by a Cardinal opponent this season.
 
Merete Lutz finished with eight kills on a .538 attack percentage and freshman Meghan McClure had seven kills, three digs and three blocks.
 
As a team, Stanford hit .355, while holding Arizona (7-5, 1-2 Pac-12) to a .042 clip. The Cardinal is now 67-7 all-time against the Wildcats. Arizona was led by junior outside hitter Kendra Dahlke who finished with 12 kills and five digs.
 
At the 10 minute intermission, Stanford welcomed back several alumni including Cary Wendell and Wendy Hromadka. The pair presented former Cardinal coach Don Shaw, who was calling the match for Pac-12 Networks, with a commemorative ball. Shaw coached the women's team at Stanford from 1984-99 and guided the Cardinal to the program's first four national titles (1992, 1994, 1996, 1997).
 


Stanford hits the road next week to begin a four-match road swing, starting Oct. 6 at No. 12 Oregon. The match will air at 8 p.m. PT on ESPNU.