STANFORD, Calif. – Led by Caitie Baird and Kendall Kipp, No. 18 Stanford defeated No. 17 Utah, 26-24, 17-25, 25-22, 25-15, Thursday, at Maples Pavilion.
Stanford (10-5, 5-2 Pac-12) picked up its fourth win over a ranked opponent this season. The Cardinal, which leads the Pac-12 in hitting percentage, posted a .307 clip while holding Utah (11-5, 4-3 Pac-12) to a .202 attack percentage.
Baird, a redshirt sophomore outside hitter, finished with a team-best 17 kills on .406 hitting to go with four digs and four blocks. Kipp, an opposite from Newport Beach, added 14 kills on .407 hitting and six digs. The junior also matched her career-high with eight blocks.
"How do you stop her [@KippKendall]?" @MikeMonaco_ ?????
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) October 15, 2021
?? » https://t.co/Yw89hTXiIc#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/Jq96BZixcR
The Cardinal finished with 13.5 blocks as a team, while the Utes tallied 11.0 but could not overcome 25 hitting errors. Utah posted six aces, including three by setter Stef Jankiewicz, and held a 40-39 advantage in digs.
Freshman Kami Miner turned in 43 assists, six digs, two blocks and an ace. The setter also matched her career-high with four kills. Sophomore libero Elena Oglivie had a match-high 14 digs, three assists and an ace. She has now recorded double digit digs in all 13 matches she has appeared in this season.
Utah led 24-21 in the opening set, but the Cardinal scored five straight to fight off three set points and secure the 26-24 victory. Leading 18-17 in the second, the Utes returned the favor going on a 7-0 run to even the match at one set apiece.
Freshman outside hitter Sami Francis registered 12 kills, including three of the Cardinal's final five points in the fourth set. Senior middle blocker Holly Campbell added seven kills and six blocks, while redshirt sophomore middle blocker McKenna Vicini had seven blocks and four digs. Vicini is averaging 1.86 blocks per set against Pac-12 opponents this season.
.@KippKendall & @mlvicini getting the block ?? going!
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB) October 15, 2021
?? » https://t.co/Yw89hTXiIc#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/CSlSSqhY3J
Sophomore defensive specialist Alex Lougey totaled two digs, an ace and an assist for Stanford, while freshman defensive specialist Taylor Beaven had five digs. Junior Selina Xu came off the bench to serve in all four sets and tallied two assists.
Utah was led by reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year Dani Drews, who had a match-high 20 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Amelia Van Der Werff chipped in with 11 kills and five blocks, while Jankiewicz had 35 assists, seven digs and three blocks.
Stanford closes out the weekend at home against Colorado on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. Sunday is the Cardinal's Pink Match presented by Stanford Medicine, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.