SEATTLE – Despite 26 kills from Kathryn Plummer, No. 2 Stanford suffered its first loss since Sept. 9 in a 3-1 setback at No. 13 Washington, Wednesday, at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Stanford (21-3) now stands at 14-1 in the Pac-12 Conference with a three-match lead over second place USC.
The Cardinal hit .308 for the match, while the Huskies posted a .256 clip. It marked the first time this season Stanford lost a match when out hitting its opponent.
Plummer finished one kill shy of her career-high, while hitting .438. The sophomore also collected nine digs and four blocks.
Stanford struggled from the service line against Washington. The Cardinal recorded 14 service errors and had 10 reception errors.
Down 14-5 early in the first, the Cardinal utilized a 7-0 run, including two blocks and a kill from Fitzmorris, to get back into it. A kill by Meghan McClure put Stanford up 21-20, but the Huskies won five of the final seven points to edge the Cardinal 25-23. It was just the third time this season Stanford lost the opening set.
Redshirt senior Merete Lutz added 11 kills on a .308 attack percentage, while sophomore Audriana Fitzmorris had 10 kills and five blocks. Sophomore libero Morgan Hentz recorded a team-high 16 digs, four assists and two aces.
Stanford bounced back in the second, leading wire-to-wire. Plummer came alive, notching nine kills on .571 hitting in the set after being held to just two kills in the first.
26 kills on .438 hitting, nine digs and 4 blocks tonight for @plummdawgg, who was one kill shy of her career-high #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/2PsnI5SGCG
— Stanford Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) November 9, 2017
Sophomore setter Jenna Gray turned in 53 assists, seven digs and four blocks. Freshman outside hitter Meghan McClure registered six kills and six digs, while junior middle blocker Tami Alade had six kills and seven blocks.
The team traded points early in the third and the score remained close throughout. There were 11 tie scores and two lead changes in the set before the Huskies came out on top. Washington closed the door on the Cardinal mid-way through the fourth, holding Stanford to a .121 attack percentage in the set.
Nice D @kateeformico ??!!! Love you. Go #11 Go @StanfordWVB ?????? https://t.co/Ox9dwJdJcs
— Kerri Walsh Jennings (@kerrileewalsh) November 9, 2017
Washington was led by Kara Bajema, who had 14 kills and five blocks. Crissy Jones added 11 kills on .364 hittiing and four blocks. As a team, the Huskies posted 14.0 blocks. Stanford is now 55-15 all-time against Washington.
Stanford closes out its trip to the Pacific Northwest on Saturday against Washington State. The Cardinal and Cougars will square off at 7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Bay Area and Pac-12 Washington.