TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 8 Stanford finished eight dual matches in seven days with back-to-back wins Sunday, closing out its time at the Pac-12 South Beach Invitational with wins over Utah (4-1) and Arizona State (5-0).
Stanford won all but one point throughout the day and saw dominant play on courts one and two from pairs senior Charlie Ekstrom and sophomore Kate Reilly, junior Maddi Kriz and sophomore Emmy Sharp, sophomore Xolani Hodel and Reilly, and Ekstrom and Kriz. The duos on courts one and two both won all of their points with straight-set decisions.
The Cardinal started the day with a switch in its usual rotation, sitting out Hodel for some much-needed rest. Ekstrom and Reilly were reunited on court one and decidedly earned a victory, 21-10, 21-11, while the new pairing of Kriz and Sharp fought through a comeback attempt by the Utes in the second set to bring home Stanford's second dual point 21-12, 23-21. Sophomore Maya Harvey and freshman Emma Morris sealed the victory with a three-set win on court three, topping Marissa Koch/Samantha Leight of Utah 18-21, 21-12, 15-10.
Stanford then met the Sun Devils for the second time in four days, recording the same result as Thursday's dual with a 5-0 sweep to finish its time at the Pac-12 South Beach Invitational. Straight-set wins on courts one and two earned the Cardinal its first two points, and the winning point came once again on set three as Harvey and Sharp topped Sarah Waters and RylieKael of Arizona State 23-21, 21-19.
The Cardinal now takes a few days to rest and recover before hosting its home opener on April 2. Stanford will welcome Saint Mary's, Cal Poly, Long Beach State, Santa Clara and UC Davis to the Farm for the Stanford Invitational April 2-3.
#8 Stanford 4, Utah 1
#1 Charlie Ekstrom/Kate Reilly (STAN) def. Grace Andrews / Bella Vezzani (Utah) 21-10, 21-11
#2 Maddi Kriz/Emmy Sharp (STAN) def. Sage Patchell/ Amaya Messier (Utah) 21-12, 23-21
#3 Maya Harvey/ Emma Morris (STAN) def. Marissa Koch/ Samantha Leight (Utah) 18-21, 21-12, 15-10
#4 Serena Turner/Taylor Wilson (STAN) def. Sommer Daniel/ Lauren Sayre (Utah) 21-17, 18-21, 17-15
#5 Sydney Jacinto /Kylie Pitzak (Utah) def. Kylee Matheson/Jordan McKinney (STAN) 21-19, 8-21, 15-10
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*, 5, 4
#8 Stanford 5, Arizona 0
#1 Xolani Hodel/Kate Reilly (STAN) def. Cierra Flood/ Lexi Sweeney (ASU) 21-13, 21-16
#2 Maddi Kriz/ Charlie Ekstrom (STAN) def. Anya Pemberton/ Lila Bordis (ASU) 21-14, 21-18
#3 Maya Harvey/Emmy Sharp (STAN) def. Sarah Waters / RylieKael (ASU) 23-21, 21-19
#4 Taylor Wilson/Emma Morris (STAN) def. Taryn Ames/ Kate Fitzgerald (ASU) 21-14, 26-24
#5 Maddie Dailey/Jordan McKinney (STAN) def. Maddy Salazar/ Kylie Wickley (ASU) 21-19, 21-17
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*, 5, 4