STANFORD, Calif. – No. 8 Stanford beach volleyball opened its home slate on Saturday with a split of No. 16 Long Beach State and No. 11 Cal Poly. The Cardinal is now 12-6 on the season.
Despite a 3-2 loss to Long Beach State in the first match of the day, the highlight was Charlie Ekstrom's 50th career win. Her and partner Maddi Kriz won at #2 in the first match and then moved to #1 pair in the second match and teamed up for the victory once again.
In the first match of the day, Stanford also won at #5 with Maddie Dailey and Jordan McKinney winning in straight sets.
In the nightcap, Ekstrom and Kriz won at #1, Xolani Hodel and Kate Reilly won at #2, Emma Morris and Taylor Wilson won at #3 and Emmy Sharp and Maya Harvey were victorious at #4.
The Cardinal will host Saint Mary's on Sunday at noon and UC Davis at 4 p.m. to close out action at the Stanford Invitational.
#16 Long Beach State 3, #8 Stanford 2
#1 Skyler Germann/Alice Pratesi (LBSU) def. Xolani Hodel/Kate Reilly (STAN) 18-21, 21-19, 15-12
#2 Charlie Ekstrom/Maddi Kriz (STAN) def. Sydney Stevens/Katie Kennedy (LBSU) 21-13, 21-16
#3 Jillian Rodriguez/Emily Mattoon (LBSU) def. Emmy Sharp/Maya Harvey (STAN) 21-13, 21-17
#4 Nicci Reinking/Claire Newlander (LBSU) def. Emma Morris/Taylor Wilson (STAN) 21-13, 14-21, 15-11
#5 Maddie Dailey/Jordan McKinney (STAN) def. Kenzie Holtz/Savannah Lyons (LBSU) 21-7, 21-18
Order of finish: 2,4,5,3,1*
#8 Stanford 4, #11 Cal Poly 1
#1 Charlie Ekstrom/Maddi Kriz (STAN) def. Ella Connor/Tia Miric (CP) 21-19, 21-17
#2 Xolani Hodel/Kate Reilly (STAN) def. Piper Ferch/Jaylelin Lombard (CP) 21-14, 21-18
#3 Emma Morris/Taylor Wilson (STAN) def. Addie Hermstad/Peyton Dueck (CP) 20-22, 21-15, 15-13
#4 Emmy Sharp/Maya Harvey (STAN) def. Vanessa Roscoe/Sam Strah (CP) 21-16, 16-21, 15-13
#5 Piper Naess/Josie Ulrich (CP) def. Maddie Dailey/Jordan McKinney (STAN) 21-16, 21-15
Order of finish: 2,4,5,1*,3