STANFORD, Calif. – Trailing 2-1 in the match, No. 8 Stanford fought back to top No. 10 UC Santa Barbara, 20-25, 25-22, 24-26, 26-24, 15-12, Saturday, in Burnham Pavilion.
Stanford (4-0) was out hit by UC Santa Barbara (1-4) .297 to .271 – its lowest output of the season. The Cardinal also had fewer kills and blocks, but came up with clutch points when it mattered most.
Senior outside hitter Will Rottman had a team-high 22 kills, while libero Justin Lui collected a career-high 19 digs to anchor the defense.
Freshman opposite Theo Snoey registered his first collegiate double-double with 10 kills and a career-best 12 digs. He also had one of four Cardinal aces. Outside hitter Kevin Lamp also tallied 10 kills and had nine digs, three assists and an ace.
Kevin Lamp with authority ??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/2ewLdlaJ2T
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) January 15, 2023
Setter Nathan Lietzke dished out 45 assists to go with two kills, four digs, four blocks and an ace. Junior Aidan Peters came off the bench to serve in all five sets, tallying an ace late in the fourth set to help the Cardinal extend the match.
LIETZKE??#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/qASGxSWGKV
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) January 15, 2023
Senior middle blocker Nathaniel Gates hit .500 with seven kills on 12 swings with just one error. He also had three blocks and three digs. Redshirt junior middle blocker Ethan Hill added six kills, four blocks and a dig.
Rottman & Hill send it ??!#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/8WVVFMRlOq
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) January 15, 2023
The Gauchos were led by Geste Bianchi's match-high 26 kills on .373 hitting, six blocks and six digs. The opposite did not play on Friday against the Cardinal. Middle blocker Dain Johnson hit .636 with seven kills on 11 errorless swings and a match-best eight blocks.
Up next, Stanford travels to Austin, Texas for the second annual First Point Collegiate Challenge. The Cardinal will face No. 15 Lewis on Friday and No. 4 Penn State on Saturday.