STANFORD, Calif. – Behind a career-high 29 kills, sophomore Jaylen Jasper led No. 9 Stanford to a 25-15, 26-28, 26-24, 23-25, 15-12 win over No. 14 USC, Thursday, at Maples Pavilion.
Jasper's 29 kills were the most by an MPSF player in two years. The opposite hit .305 and finished with eight digs, three blocks and an ace. It marked the third 20-kill performance of the season for Jasper, whose previous career-high had been 27.
Stanford (8-5) picked up its first MPSF win of the season, while USC (7-5) dropped to 1-1 in the conference. The Cardinal out hit the Trojans, .275 to .228 and held a 5-3 advantage in aces. Stanford also out dug USC, 55-41, but the Trojans had a 14.0-10.0 edge in blocks.
Junior Paul Bischoff turned in 57 assists, one shy of his season-high, and totaled 12 digs for his second double-double of the season. Redshirt senior libero Kyle Dagostino had a match-high 14 digs.
?? @StanfordMVB takes set 3??.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 15, 2019
Watch #NCAAMVB: https://t.co/np0lQVxLkg pic.twitter.com/XPiS8GwhWK
Stanford won the sideout battle on the night, 70 percent to 64 percent by the Trojans. For the match, there were 27 tie scores and 11 lead changes.
Sophomore Kyler Presho was effective in the middle when Bischoff was able to get him the ball, hitting a match-best .562 with 11 kills on 16 swings and just two errors. Senior outside hitter Jordan Ewert finished with his third double-double of the season, notching 10 kills and 10 digs.
Ewert takes some off for the ace! Timeout USC. Watch on @Pac12Network.
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 15, 2019
S1: ?? 10, ?? 6#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/PnZqzm1YrC
Junior middle blocker Stephen Moye added seven kills on .308 hitting and a season-high seven blocks, including two solo. Sophomore outside hitter Leo Henken finished with six kills, five digs and three blocks.
Both Henken and Bischoff were effective from the service line Thursday, sparking runs which allowed Stanford to come-from-behind in the second and third sets. The Cardinal jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the fifth and never allowed USC to get closer than within two points.
?? Henken was ALL over this one!
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 15, 2019
Watch on @Pac12Network.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/B0nudDXhiX
USC was led by senior Gianluca Grasso's 19 kills on .441 hitting. Grasso's serve also kept the Cardinal off balance on serve receive. Senior outside hitter Ryan Moss added 17 kills, 12 digs and four blocks.
Up next, Stanford takes on Concordia on Saturday in Burnham Pavilion. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 15, 2019
"Rally of the match!" - @KevBarn14 #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/JRaGwa1gAn