Stanford Cardinal (6-4)
vs.
Yale Bulldogs (10-4)
Friday, Feb. 22 • 10:30 a.m. • Hartford, Conn.
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STANFORD, Calif. - No. 4 Stanford concludes its season this weekend when the CSA National Championships get underway on Friday in Hartford, Connecticut.
Seeded No. 4 in the Howe Cup draw, Stanford (6-4) will square off against a familiar foe in No. 5 Yale (10-4) on Friday at 10:30 a.m. PT in the opening round.
The Cardinal might have to shake off some rust, having been idle since defeating Yale 7-2 back on Jan. 19. Stanford showcased its superior depth in that contest, securing victories at the bottom six spots of the lineup. However, the match was much closer than the final score indicated, with six of the nine contests requiring five sets to complete and the entire competition lasting just over three hours.
In the latest chapter of what is becoming an extremely competitive rivalry, Stanford has won three of the last four matchups against the Bulldogs after losing 10 of the previous 13. Adding some intrigue to the emerging rivalry is the unique connection between Stanford head coach Mark Talbott and his older brother, Dave, who is the head coach at Yale.
At the 2018 CSA National Championships, Stanford dropped a 5-4 decision to Yale in the main draw before defeating Cornell and Penn in the consolation round.
In 2017, Stanford edged Yale 5-4 to capture the tournament's consolation crown, which at the time represented the program's first win against the Elis.
Stanford's four losses this season have come against Harvard, Trinity, Princeton and Pennsylvania – teams that have combined for a 48-7 record.
The Cardinal has received notable production from a pair of freshmen. Elena Wagenmans has held down the top spot of the lineup all season and posted a 5-3 record while Amita Gondi provides lower-lineup depth and owns the team lead with six victories.
Juliette Love and Grayson Melby have also chipped in with five wins apiece.