StoryStory
Christopher Mitchell
Women's Volleyball

Stanford Falls at Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS – No. 18 Stanford dropped a 25-20, 25-18, 25-17 decision at No. 12 seed Minnesota, Saturday, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Maturi Pavilion.

The loss snapped a nation-best 13-match win streak in the NCAA Tournament. The last time the Cardinal lost in the postseason was the 2017 NCAA semifinals in Kansas City.

Stanford (19-11) was held to a season-low attack percentage, hitting at a .164 clip. The Cardinal finished with 5.0 blocks, 44 digs and just one ace.

Minnesota (22-8) hit .339 and finished with 51 digs, 5.0 blocks and three aces. The Gophers will advance to the NCAA Madison Regional at Wisconsin next weekend. Stanford drops to 10-3 all-time against Minnesota, suffering its first loss to the Gophers in the postseason.

Junior opposite Kendall Kipp led the Cardinal with 15 kills on .303 hitting to go with six digs and two blocks. Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Caitie Baird added 12 kills, six digs and an ace.

Freshman setter Kami Miner dished out 31 assists and had seven digs and a kill. Sophomore Elena Oglivie collected 13 digs to pace the Cardinal. Defensive specialists Alex Lougeay and Taylor Beaven combined for seven digs, while Lougeay tallied two assists.
 


Playing in her final collegiate match, senior middle blocker Holly Campbell registered five kills and three blocks. Freshman outside hitter Sami Francis recorded three kills, four digs and three blocks, while redshirt sophomore middle blocker McKenna Vicini finished with two blocks, a kill, a dig and an assist.
 


Minnesota was led by fifth-year senior opposite Stephanie Samedy's 16 kills. Outside hitters Jenna Wenaas and Airi Miyabe each registered a double-double. Wenass had 14 kills on .414 hitting and 16 digs, while Miyabe totaled 11 kills on a .409 attack percentage and 12 digs.

Seven of the nine Cardinal players who saw action on Saturday were playing in just their second NCAA Tournament match, and it was only the third for Kipp, who subbed in during the 2019 national title match for one play.

Stanford, which was making its 40th NCAA Tournament appearance, remains the national leader with 132 NCAA Tournament wins.