STANFORD, Calif. – Will Rottman recorded a match-high 21 kills, but No. 10 Stanford fell 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 to No. 6 UC Irvine, Saturday, in Maples Pavilion.
Stanford (9-8) hit .322 as a team, while UC Irvine (10-5) posted a .357 clip. The Anteaters held a 9-3 advantage in aces as outside hitter Hillir Henno recorded six. UC Irvine also out blocked Stanford 8.5 to 3.0 and had a 27-25 edge in digs.
The lone Cardinal in double-figures, Rottman's 21 kills came on a .472 attack percentage and are the most in a three-set match by a Stanford player this season. For the weekend, the outside hitter averaged 5.50 kills per set on a .394 clip.
Hustle plays ??#GoStanford #NCAAMVB pic.twitter.com/6fCBDeJL9g
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 4, 2023
Setter Nathan Lietzke finished with 36 assists, nine digs, two aces and a block. Libero Justin Lui tallied seven dis and two assists.
Outside hitter Luke Turner totaled six kills, while middle blocker Nathaniel Gates had five kills on a .500 attack percentage and two blocks.
Wagner out of the back row!#GoStanford #NCAAMVB pic.twitter.com/aE6zW9Orr4
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 5, 2023
Freshman Moses Wagner came off the bench in the second and third sets, recording three kills on eight errorless swings and an assist. Middle blocker Ethan Hill added three kills, two digs, a solo block and an ace. Opposite Theo Snoey was held to three kills and two digs.
A monster block by Hill ??#GoStanford #NCAAMVB pic.twitter.com/Xo6Op5EcN4
— Stanford Men's Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) March 4, 2023
Francesco Sani led UC Irvine with 13 kills on .545 hitting to go with seven digs, two aces and a block. In addition to the six aces, Henno notched 10 kills, seven digs and two blocks.
Stanford returns to action on March 17-18 for a pair of matches versus No. 2 UCLA in Burnham Pavilion.