SEATTLE – For the second straight match, redshirt freshman Caitie Baird registered 25 kills, but Stanford's comeback bid fell short (25-22, 12-25, 31-33, 25-18, 14-16) at No. 8 Washington, Sunday, at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Washington (15-3) escaped with the win on Senior Day in Seattle after the short-handed Cardinal (2-8) gave it all it had in the five-set thriller. There were 28 tie scores and 10 lead changes in the match.
Baird matched her career-high in kills, which set on Friday against the Huskies, and in digs (14) for her team-best fifth double-double of the year. The outside hitter also registered a career-high seven blocks to go with two aces.
.@caitiebaird_ over the top and down the line. Well done ??
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) March 28, 2021
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Washington out hit Stanford .172 to .148 and held a 98-84 advantage in digs. The Cardinal out blocked the Huskies 17.0 to 14.0 and finished with four aces.
Freshman middle blocker Annabelle Smith, who leads the Pac-12 in blocks per set, tallied a team-high 10 blocks and a career-best 12 kills for the Cardinal. Redshirt freshman middle blocker McKenna Vicini added seven kills on .353 hitting and six blocks.
Sophomore setter Selina Xu controlled the offense and finished with a career-high 50 assists. The Belmont native also matched her career-best with 11 digs to go with four blocks for her third double-double of the year.
Freshman libero Elena Oglivie once again matched her career-high with 21 digs – her ninth straight match in double figures and her fourth with 21. Senior Meghan McClure finished with a career-high 22 digs to lead the team. The outside hitter also notched nine kills, two blocks and an ace.
Oglivie out here makin' plays ??
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) March 28, 2021
?? » https://t.co/5CETLkj45S#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/WTpwrQJOcu
Sophomore Natalie Berty played opposite for the Cardinal, chipping in with five kills, 13 digs and a career-best four blocks. Freshman Malia Tufuga, the only sub for Stanford in the match, had an ace and a dig for the Cardinal.
?? @natalieberty_
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) March 28, 2021
?? » https://t.co/5CETLkj45S#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/NVEeZfVrsL
Washington was led by Claire Hoffman's 22 kills and 17 digs, while Samantha Drechsel added 19 kills and 16 digs. Libero Shannon Crenshaw had a match-high 26 digs for the Huskies. Washington recognized McClure as a part of its Senior Day ceremony prior to the start of the match.
Stanford returns to The Farm next week to close out its season with a pair of matches against No. 17 UCLA on Friday and Sunday. Sunday's match will be Senior Day for McClure at Maples Pavilion.