STANFORD, Calif. – No. 14 Stanford registered a season-best 20.5 blocks, but the Cardinal dropped an 18-25, 18-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-9 decision to No. 19 UCLA, Sunday, at Maples Pavilion.
Stanford (6-4, 1-1 Pac-12) out hit UCLA (9-1, 2-0 Pac-12) .227 to .161 and edged the Bruins in kills, 59-57. The Cardinal is now 1-2 in five-set matches this season and seven of its first 10 matches have been against ranked opponents.
Redshirt sophomore McKenna Vicini set a career-high with 14 blocks – tied for the fifth-most in a single match in program history. The middle blocker also had six kills on nine errorless swings to hit .667.
Junior opposite Kendall Kipp paced the team with 16 kills on .364 hitting to go with four digs, two aces and a career-best eight blocks. Redshirt sophomore Caitie Baird finished with her fifth double-double of the season, posting 14 kills and 10 digs.
Freshman setter Kami Miner dished out 49 assists and matched her career-high with four kills. She also recorded a career-high seven blocks to go with six digs and an ace.
Sophomore Elena Oglivie started the match at libero and had 11 digs in two sets played before leaving with an injury. Freshman Taylor Beaven replaced Oglivie at libero to start the third set and collected a career-high 12 digs and three assists.
Senior middle blocker Holly Campbell turned in seven kills and six blocks, while freshman outside hitter Sami Francis added 12 kills and three blocks. Sophomore defensive specialist Alex Lougeay totaled five digs and a pair of aces, while junior Natalie Berty had a season-high five digs. Freshman Maiya Tillman came off the bench to serve in the third, fourth and fifth sets and tallied her first career dig.
UCLA was led by Charitie Luper's 18 kills on .372 hitting and 13 digs. Mac May added 12 kills, but was held to -.022 hitting. Libero Zoe Fleck had a match-high 19 digs for the Bruins.
Stanford remains at home next week, hosting Arizona State on Friday and Arizona on Sunday.