STANFORD, Calif. – A career-high 22 kills for freshman Jaylen Jasper wasn't enough to upset No. 6 BYU, Wednesday, as the Cardinal fell 33-31, 25-27, 25-23, 25-21 at Maples Pavilion.
Stanford (3-12, 1-3 MPSF) gave BYU (11-4, 4-0 MPSF) all it could handle, pushing the first two sets to overtime. There were 31 tie scores and 10 lead changes in the two sets.
For the match, Stanford hit .276 and finished with 62 kills – its most in a four-set match this season. The Cardinal out dug the Cougars, 39-25, but BYU finished with 13.0 blocks to just 4.0 by Stanford.
Jasper's 22 kills were the most by a Stanford player this season. He hit .286 and finished with five digs, an ace and a block. Redshirt senior Kevin Rakestraw posted a .316 attack percentage out of the middle, totaling 11 kills and two blocks. Freshman Kyler Presho, who has started every match at middle blocker, hit .667 with eight kills on 12 errorless swings.
?? Jasper gets rid of the over pass. Cardinal up 22-20 in the 2nd. TO BYU. Watch on @Pac12Network #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/S0LLAujgfl
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 22, 2018
Consecutive kills by Rakestraw and freshman JP Reilly tied the opening set at 24-24. Service errors by both teams continued to extend the set. A kill by Jasper tied it at 29-29 and another by Rakestraw knotted the score at 31. Two Cardinal errors finally ended the first frame in favor of the Cougars.
Sometimes things just go your way ?????
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 22, 2018
Watch on @Pac12Network #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/bercmbO6xv
Junior setter Russell Dervay recorded a career-best 53 assists to go with five digs, two kills and an ace. Senior libero Evan Enriques had a match-best 10 digs, marking the fourth time this season he reached double-digits.
The second set remained close throughout. A kill by sophomore outside hitter Eric Beatty gave the Cardinal a 26-25 edge. BYU sophomore Storm Fa'agata-Tufuga hit the next ball out to give the Cardinal the victory.
Reilly and Rakestraw team up early for the block. Watch on @Pac12Network #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/G9iY8p96LE
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 22, 2018
Beatty was one dig shy of a double-double as he tallied 11 kills along with two aces. Reilly earned the start at the other outside hitter spot, registering eight kills, six digs and two blocks.
Freshman opposite Gabi Garcia Fernandez led BYU with 18 kills on .333 hitting and four blocks. Senior outside hitter Brenden Sander chipped in with 16 kills and six digs, while senior middle blocker Price Jarman had eight blocks.
Stanford and BYU will meet again on Saturday in Provo. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on BYUtv.