STANFORD, Calif. – Freshmen Kupono Browne and Luke Turner combined for 26 kills, leading Stanford to a sweep over No. 7 Grand Canyon (25-23, 25-22, 25-22), Friday, at Maples Pavilion.
The Cardinal (1-7) earned its first win of the year, out hitting the Lopes (3-5) .289 to .224. Stanford held a 10.0 to 9.5 edge in blocks and totaled 25 digs and three aces.
Browne led all players with 14 kills on .233 hitting to go with five digs and an ace. Turner added 12 kills on .267 hitting, four digs and a career-high five blocks.
Browne AGAIN! He ties it at 23 all in the first. TO GCU.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/sPinqQvKGc
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 20, 2021
Sophomore setter Nathan Lietzke dished out 35 assists and added three kills, four digs, two aces and a career-high five blocks. Redshirt sophomore libero Justin Lui tallied four digs.
LIETZKE!
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 20, 2021
Card has match point. TO GCU.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/iSVpRD7SS1
Sophomore middle Nathaniel Gates hit a career-best .583 (7-0-12) – the highest hitting percentage by a Cardinal this season (minimum 10 attempts). Sophomore middle Adam Chang added three kills and four digs, while freshman outside hitter Aidan Peters finished with three kills, five digs and a block.
Chang CRUSHES this one from the middle ??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/DbV9ORpidy
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 20, 2021
Grand Canyon was led by Camden Gianni's 12 kills, while libero Cole Udall had a match-high eight digs. Ian McLain added four kills and six blocks for the Lopes.
Stanford and Grand Canyon square off again on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Maples Pavilion.