LOS ANGELES -- No. 7 Stanford split its first day of action at the Battle For Los Angeles Saturday, topping No. 13 Florida Atlantic but falling to No. 8 LMU.
The Cardinal saw juniors Maya Harvey and Kate Reilly each earn their 50th individual career win throughout the two matches Saturday, as Harvey earned hers with a victory over FAU while Reilly recorded her 50th win with an individual victory over No. 8 LMU. Additionally, freshman Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent matched the school record for most consecutive wins as a pair with their victory over FAU (record was set in 2020 by Amelia Smith/Emmy Sharp).
Stanford started its day with a rematch of the 2022 NCAA Championship quarterfinals, taking on No. 13 Florida Atlantic, but this time earned a 3-2 victory. After losing the first point of the dual on court two, the freshman duo of Belardi and Vincent tied up the match with a 17-21, 24-22, 15-4 victory on court four. The Owls retook the lead with a win on court three, but Reilly and fifth-year Charlie Ekstrom re-evened the match with a straight-set win on court one. Freshmen Sophie Kubiak and Line Andersson won the match for the Cardinal, coming back from a first-set defeat to win the match by a score of 22-24, 21-12, 15-9.
The Cardinal's second match of the day was just as close as its first. Stanford took an early lead in the dual with Harvey's 50th career win on court four and a two-set victory on court two from junior Xolani Hodel and Maddi Kriz, but the Lions fought back with two-set victories on both court four and two. The dual came down to court three, where Belardi and Vincent lost their first match donning a Cardinal uniform, winning the first set but unable to hold off a Lions surge to victory in sets two and three.
Stanford continues play in the Battle for Los Angeles tomorrow, taking on No. 2 USC and Cal Poly at Merle Norman Stadium. The matches against the Women of Troy and Mustangs are set for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
No. 7 Stanford 3, No. 13 FAU 2
1. Charlie Ekstrom / Kate Reilly (STAN) def. Honzovicova / Adams (FAU): 21-15, 21-19
2. Jarman / Austin (FAU) def. Xolani Hodel / Maddi Kriz (STAN): 19-21, 21-15, 17-15
3. Robertson / Cangelosi (FAU) def. Maya Harvey / Taylor Wilson (STAN): 22-20, 21-18
4. Kelly Belardi / Ashley Vincent (STAN) def. McLoughlin / Moon (FAU): 17-21, 24-22, 15-4
5. Sophie Kubiak / Line Andersson (STAN) def. Young / Orvieto (FAU): 22-24, 21-12, 15-9
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 3, 1, 5
No. 8 LMU 3, No. 7 Stanford 2
1. Prihti / Paul def. Charlie Ekstrom / Kate Reilly (STAN): 21-17, 21-11
2. Xolani Hodel / Maddi Kriz (STAN) def. Chinn / Thorup (LMU): 21-19, 21-14
3. Hooker / Reffel (LMU) def. Kelly Belardi / Ashley Vincent (STAN): 16-21, 21-18, 15-12
4. Maya Harvey / Taylor Wilson (STAN) def. Ramirez / Garder (LMU): 21-18, 9-21, 15-10
5. Firnett / Tucker (LMU) def. Sophie Kubiak / Line Andersson (STAN): 21-15, 22-20
Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 5, 3