STANFORD, Calif. – Despite dropping the opening set, No. 16 Stanford stormed back to defeat rival California, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22, 25-14, Wednesday, in the Pac-12 opener for both teams at Maples Pavilion.
Stanford (6-3, 1-0 Pac-12) hit .344 as a team and registered 69 kills – its most in a four-set match this season. The Cardinal held Cal (7-5, 0-1 Pac-12) to a .228 clip.
Stanford's pin hitters combined for 57 of its 69 kills. Junior opposite Kendall Kipp matched her season-high with 21 kills on a blistering .441 attack percentage to lead the team. Freshman outside hitter Sami Francis, playing in just her third match of the season, had a career-high 19 kills on .425 hitting and matched her career-best with three blocks, while redshirt sophomore outside hitter Caitie Baird finished with 17 kills and 14 digs for her fourth straight double-double.
Freshman setter Kami Miner dished out a career-high 60 assists to go with eight digs, a kill and a solo block. Sophomore Elena Oglivie collected a team-best 15 digs and had a career-best six assists.
The Cardinal took care of business. ??
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 23, 2021
After dropping the first set, @StanfordWVB bounced back to win the Big Spike over rival Cal in four sets.#GoStanford | #Pac12VB pic.twitter.com/yxjltLYTBb
Middle blockers Holly Campbell and McKenna Vicini registered six and five kills, respectively. Vicini tallied a match-high five blocks, while Campbell had three.
Sophomore defensive specialist Alex Lougeay racked up a career-high 14 digs and put down three aces – tying her career-best. Freshman defensive specialist Taylor Beaven chipped in with three digs, while junior Natalie Berty came off the bench in the third and fourth sets to serve and notched two digs. Freshman Maiya Tillman made her collegiate debut against the Bears, subbing in to serve in the second set.
Cal was led by outside hitter Mima Mirkovic's 14 kills on .350 hitting and 10 digs, while Katie Smoot finished with 12 kills and seven digs. Libero Tara DeSa had a match-high 17 digs.
Up next, Stanford plays host to No. 19 UCLA, which defeated USC in its conference opener on Wednesday, on Sunday. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks.