STANFORD, Calif. – Without ever surrendering the lead, No. 2 Stanford swept Arizona, 25-16, 25-14, 25-16, Friday, at Maples Pavilion.
Stanford (10-3, 4-1 Pac-12) was firing on all cylinders, hitting .405 as a team – its second-highest output of the season. The Cardinal held Arizona (11-6, 1-4 Pac-12) to a .102 clip. Stanford's service pressure resulted in a season-best 10 aces, which kept the Wildcats out of system for much of the match.
Five Cardinal registered five or more kills against the Wildcats as setter Jenna Gray spread around the offense. The senior tallied 30 assists to go with two kills, five digs and a block. She also matched her season-high with three aces and is now tied for ninth all-time in school history with 120.
Senior opposite Audriana Fitzmorris led the team with nine kills, matched her season-high with a .615 hitting percentage and registered her first ace of the season. Freshman outside hitter Kendall Kipp finished with eight kills and tied her season-high with four blocks, while junior Meghan McClure chipped in with six kills on .312 hitting and a season-best three aces.
Libero Morgan Hentz racked up 20 of the Cardinal's 32 digs on the night. The senior has hit the 20-dig mark in eight of the last nine matches.
Sneaky sneaky…??.@jennagray22 lifts @StanfordWVB to a sweep at Maples with this match point. She earns the @OpusBank #12Best moment. pic.twitter.com/GZchLGISXz
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 12, 2019
Madeleine Gates and Holly Campbell were both efficient options in the middle for the Cardinal. Gates hit .600 with six kills on 10 errorless swings, while Campbell had five kills on .571 hitting (5-1-7) and four blocks.
Senior defensive specialist Caitlin Keefe started her third straight match as the Cardinal was without senior outside hitter Kathryn Plummer.
Coming off the bench for Stanford in the third set were opposite Mackenzie Fidelak, outside hitter Michaela Keefe, and middle blocker McKenna Vicini. All three registered a kill.
Arizona was led by Katie Smoot's 11 kills and six digs. Elizabeth Shelton added eight kills for the Wildcats.
The Cardinal wraps up the weekend on Sunday as it hosts Arizona State. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks.