SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – In a complete team effort, No. 6 Stanford got back in the win column with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 sweep over The Master's University on Saturday.
Stanford (7-2) hit .262 as a team and totaled 30 digs, eight aces and 3.0 blocks. The Master's (3-1), which suffered its first loss of the season, posted a .205 attack percentage, 24 digs, five aces and 8.0 blocks.
Outside hitter Will Rottman led the Cardinal with nine kills and matched his career-high with four aces. The senior also had two assists, both setting up brother, Alex Rottman.
The younger Rottman turned in seven kills on .556 hitting, two digs and an ace. Middle blocker Ethan Hill added six kills on a .455 attack percentage and a block, while freshman opposite Theo Snoey chipped in with five kills, three digs and a block.
Setter Nathan Lietzke tallied 21 assists, two digs and an ace. The Cardinal again utilized a 6-2 offense in the second and third sets as freshmen setter Theoren Brouillette and opposite Moses Wagner subbed in for Lietzke and Snoey. Brouillette finished with seven assists and three digs, while Wagner had three digs as well.
Libero Justin Lui registered his fifth consecutive match with double-digit digs this season, collecting a match-high 10 to go with three assists. Senior Adam Chang recorded one of Stanford's eight aces.
Middle blocker Nathaniel Gates posted a .571 attack percentage with four kills, a block and a dig. Senior outside hitter Kevin Lamp recorded three kills, a block and an ace in the first set before being replaced by Alex Rottman in the second and third sets.
Overall, 17 Cardinal appeared in the match, including the season debut for Matt Martinez. Fifth-year Hunter Dickey had two digs off the bench late in the third.
The Mustangs were led by Will Avera and Nolan Flexen, who each had 10 kills. Avera hit .769 adding four blocks, two digs and two aces.
Stanford returns to The Farm next week, hosting defending champion and top-ranked Hawai'i on Feb. 10-11. Saturday's match will be played in Burnham Pavilion with a seating capacity of 1,000. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to ensure entrance.
