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Al Chang/Stanford Athletics
Women's Volleyball

Card is Sweet

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STANFORD, Calif. – Opposite Kendall Kipp had a match-high 24 kills to lead No. 1 seed Stanford to a sweep over LSU, Saturday, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Maples Pavilion.

Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1998, Stanford (26-4) has advanced to the NCAA Regional semifinal 19 times. The Cardinal, which has won 20 consecutive matches, now boasts 134 NCAA Tournament wins – the most all-time.

Kipp's 24 kills, which tied her career-high, came on 33 swings with just two errors for a .667 attack percentage.  In the 2022 postseason, the senior is averaging 6.43 kills on .528 hitting, 1.00 blocks and 7.07 points per set.
 


For the match, the Cardinal posted a .384 attack percentage and racked up 53 kills, 41 digs and 7.0 blocks. LSU (16-14) finished with 24 kills on .150 hitting, 24 digs and 5.0 blocks.

Setter Kami Miner dished out 45 assists and had six digs, two kills, two blocks and an ace. Libero Elena Oglivie registered a match-high 19 digs and is averaging 5.14 digs per set in the postseason.
 


Stanford dominated the first two sets, hitting .483 in the opening frame and .406 in the second.

Middle blocker McKenna Vicini hit .625 with six kills on eight attempts with just one miscue to go with four blocks. Junior middle blocker Annabelle Smith tallied four kills on .667 hitting and three blocks.

Freshman outside hitter Elia Rubin finished with nine kills, eight digs and two assists, while redshirt junior outside hitter Caitie Baird turned in eight kills, six digs, two blocks and two aces.

Stanford trailed by as much as four points in the final set. With the third tied at 20, Baird reeled off six straight from the service line to push the Cardinal lead to 24-21. Kipp's final kill sealed the Cardinal comeback.

LSU was led by outside hitter Sanaa Dotson's nine kills, five digs and two blocks. Middle Anita Anwusi chipped in with five kills and four blocks.

The Cardinal welcomes No. 2 seed San Diego, No. 3 seed Kentucky and No. 5 seed Houston to The Farm for the Stanford Regional, Dec. 8 and 10.  All times are TBD.