WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three Cardinal tallied double-digit kills as No. 1 Stanford swept American in front of the largest crowd to ever see a volleyball match (2,837) in Bender Arena.
In its season opener, Stanford hit .359 as a team and posted 14.0 blocks. The Cardinal held American (2-1) to an .096 attack percentage.
Sophomore outside hitter Meghan McClure led the team and matched her career-high with 13 kills on .565 hitting. Junior Kathryn Plummer also had 13 kills, finishing just one shy of 1,000 for her career. The outside hitter also collected nine digs, three blocks and an ace.
Junior setter Jenna Gray controlled the offense with 36 assists to go with five digs, two blocks and two aces. Junior libero Morgan Hentz anchored the defense with 15 digs, including eight in the opening set, while sophomore Kate Formico collected three digs.
Junior Audriana Fitzmorris, who has moved from middle blocker to opposite this season, notched 10 kills on a .643 attack percentage and six blocks. Senior Tami Alade and freshman Holly Campbell started at middle, combining for 12 blocks. Senior Courtney Bowen came off the bench in the third set for Campbell, notching a blocks and a kill.
Lucky I get to watch @stanfordWVB open their season here in DC vs. @AU_Volleyball in front of a sell-out crowd #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/oY3MjI6QQb
— Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky) August 26, 2018
Patriot League Player of the Year Aleksandra Kazala led the Eagles with 11 kills, seven digs and four blocks.
Stanford closes out its opening trip on Monday night at Howard. First serve between the Cardinal and Bison is slated for 4 p.m. PT.