SALT LAKE CITY – Competing with just eight available players, Stanford pushed No. 9 Utah to four sets before falling 25-14, 25-17, 20-25, 25-22, Friday, at the Huntsman Center.
The Cardinal (1-4) was out hit .309 to .179 by the Utes (9-2), who held a 7-5 advantage in aces and 56-50 edge in digs. Stanford out blocked Utah, 8.5 to 7.0.
Sophomore Kendall Kipp had a team-high 17 kills and 13 digs for her second double-double of the season. Senior Meghan McClure added a season-high 12 kills and eight digs.
Sophomore setter Selina Xu controlled the offense with 41 assists to go with 10 digs, two kills and two aces, notching her second double-double of the year. Freshman libero Elena Oglivie registered 12 digs, two assists, an ace and her first collegiate kill.
Sophomore middle blocker McKenna Vicini matched her career-high with nine kills on .444 hitting and tallied three blocks. Freshman middle blocker Annabelle Smith finished with a match-high five blocks, including two solo.
Junior Mackenzie Fidelak made her season debut against Utah. Sophomore Natalie Berty came off the bench and had four kills, five digs, three blocks and an ace.
Utah senior Dani Drews had a match-high 30 kills on .348 hitting to go with eight digs, three aces and two blocks. Madelyn Robinson chipped in with 12 kills on .474 hitting for the Utes.
The Cardinal is now 19-3 all-time against the Utes, who earned their first win over Stanford since 2016.
Stanford and Utah will meet again on Sunday at the Huntsman Center. First serve is slated for 11 a.m. PT on Pac-12 Networks.
