STANFORD, Calif. – Freshman Kupono Browne led all players with 22 kills, but Stanford men's volleyball dropped a 25-22, 20-25, 25-18, 28-26 decision to No. 6 Pepperdine, Saturday, in Maples Pavilion.
Browne, who made his first career start at opposite, hit .362 and collected four blocks and a match-high three aces.
Stanford (0-2) hit .214 as a team, recorded 11.5 team blocks and five aces. Pepperdine (4-2) hit .252 with 10.5 team blocks and held a 34-31 advantage in digs.
Sophomore setter Nathan Lietzke controlled the offense with a season-high 41 assists to go with eight digs, four blocks and three kills. Redshirt sophomore libero Justin Lui finished with six digs.
Stanford hit .269 in the second and posted its highest sideout rate of the match at 75 percent. The Cardinal led 22-20 in the set, but was unable to close it out and force a deciding fifth set.
Sophomore outside hitter Kevin Lamp turned in 11 kills, four digs, two blocks and an ace. Freshman Aidan Peters started at outside hitter and registered eight kills and a match-best 10 digs.
Sophomore middle blocker Adam Chang tallied a career-high eight blocks to lead all players. Sophomore middle blocker Nathaniel Gates added four kills, three blocks and an ace.
Pepperdine was led by senior Spencer Wickens, who had 16 kills and seven digs. Sophomore opposite Jacob Steele added 12 kills, seven digs and three blocks.
Up next, Stanford hits the road, beginning with a match at Pepperdine on Wednesday, March 3.