Kansas City BoundKansas City Bound
Karen Ambrose Hickey
Women's Volleyball

Kansas City Bound

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Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. – Kathryn Plummer was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Stanford Regional, leading the third-seeded Cardinal to a sweep over No. 6 seed Texas, Saturday, in the Regional Final at Maples Pavilion.
 
Stanford (30-3) advances to its 21st national semifinal, the most in the nation, and is making back-to-back appearances for the first time since the Cardinal went to three straight from 2006-08.

"Congratulations to Texas. I thought they came out prepared and did a really nice job of attacking us, especially early," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "I like the composure we showed early with being down 5-0. They continued to bring it and fight. They are certainly a really physical and really talented team. It is a nice win for us. We are excited to move on and get to go to Kansas City. It has been our goal all season and we haven't been shy about that."
 
Led by Plummer's 19 kills, Stanford snapped second-ranked Texas' 21-match winning streak and is now 7-2 against the Longhorns (27-3) in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Stanford hit .304 as a team and held the Longhorns to a .255 clip. The Cardinal out blocked Texas, 8.0 to 5.0, but the Longhorns won the digging battle, 52-47.
 
Texas scored the first five points of the match and seemingly had Stanford on its heels. Plummer went to work, tallying six kills in the set. The Cardinal took the lead on a kill by Tami Alade at 16-15 and would not relinquish it in a 25-21 victory.
 
Sophomore setter Jenna Gray controlled the offense with 39 assists, while sophomore libero Morgan Hentz had a match-best 19 digs to go with six assists. The pair also recorded four of Stanford's five service aces.
 

 
"She gets us in opportunities that no other setter in the country does. She is really underrated," said Plummer of classmate Gray. "She allows us to be the stars and she doesn't get as much credit as she deserves. She spreads out the offense because she has so many weapons and she knows how to use them well."

Stanford pulled ahead 17-12 in the second set on consecutive kills by Plummer. Texas held off the Cardinal for four match-points, but Plummer was too much for the Longhorns to handle, finished with 10 kills on .474 hitting as Stanford won it 25-21.
 
Sophomore Audriana Fitzmorris posted 10 kills and five blocks for the Cardinal. She along with Gray will have a homecoming in Kansas City as the duo played high school ball at St. James Academy in the local area.

"I am really excited. I think one of my friends told me my senior year of high school that the Final Four would be in Kansas City my sophomore year of college, so this has been something that has been on my radar for a couple of years now. I am definitely excited to see everyone," said Gray.

"It has been in the back of my mind for sure, but just try to focus one game at a time. I remember being back in Kansas City back in 2010 and watching that championship there. I am glad to be able to be back in that environment," added Fitzmorris.
 
The third set was close throughout and much more of an offensive battle as there were 14 tie scores and six lead changes. Stanford hit .436 as a team and redshirt senior Merete Lutz sealed the win in her final outing at Maples Pavilion. The opposite had seven kills and three blocks, moving her past Kerri Walsh for seventh on Stanford's career blocks list with 503.
 


Freshman Meghan McClure hit .353 with six kills on 17 errorless swings. The rookie also collected 14 digs to go with an ace and a block. Alade added six kills and three blocks, and freshman defensive specialist Kate Formico totaled six digs.

Joining Plummer on the All-Region team were Gray and Hentz. Representing Texas were Micaya White and Chiaka Ogbogu. Utah's Adora Anae and Wisconsin's Dana Rettke were also recognized.
 


Stanford will face No. 2 seed Florida in the national semifinal on Thursday at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The Cardinal and Gators will meet at 6 p.m. PT on ESPN, following a Big Ten battle between top-seeded Penn State and No. 5 seed Nebraska.