STANFORD, Calif. – No. 10 Stanford kicked off its four dual-match weekend with two top-10 upset victories over No. 7 Grand Canyon and No. 9 California at the Beach Volleyball Stadium.
The Cardinal opened its final weekend of regular-season duals with its second top-10 upset victory in so many weeks, topping No. 7 GCU 4-1. Freshman duo Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent won its 23rd match with a 21-17, 21-15 victory over the 'Lopes on court four, while fifth-year Charlie Ekstrom and Maya Harvey took down GCU 21-19, 21-17 on court two. Juniors Kate Reilly and Emmy Sharp clinched the match with a 21-19, 26-24 victory on court three.
Stanford then met its crosstown foe No. 9 California for the third time this season, ending the Golden Bears' six-match win streak with a 4-1 victory. Belardi and Vincent once again started the Cardinal's scoring efforts, winning the first point of the dual match on court four with a 21-19, 22-20 victory. Ekstrom and Harvey held off a Golden Bears' comeback attempt on court two, winning a three-set battle for the second point of the match. Reilly and Sharp clinched the match with a dominating 21-17, 21-15 win on court three.
Stanford continues its final weekend of regular-season play Saturday, welcoming Santa Clara and Pacific to The Farm for dual matches set for 1 and 5 p.m., respectively. The Cardinal's senior class of Kate Bierly, Charlie Ekstrom, Zeena Khazendar, Maddi Kriz, and Kylee Matheson will be honored in a ceremony following Stanford's matchup with Pacific.
#10 Stanford 4, #7 GCU 1
1. Xolani Hodel and Maddi Kriz (STAN ) def. Abbie Hughes and Allison Hansen (GCU) 17-21, 21-18, 15-9
2 Charlie Ekstrom and Maya Harvey (STAN ) def. Samaya Morin and Allanis Navas (GCU) 21-19, 21-17
3 Kate Reilly and Emmy Sharp (STAN ) def. Cami Sanchez and Anaya Evans (GCU) 21-19, 26-24
4 Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent (STAN ) def. Dana Roskic and Sarah Dickson (GCU) 21-17, 21-15
5 Krista Rowan and Brooke Birch (GCU) def. Serena Turner and Taylor Wilson (STAN ) 21-14, 21-18
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 3*, 1
#10 Stanford 4, #9 California 1
1. Xolani Hodel and Maddi Kriz (STAN) def. Sierra Caffo and Liz Waters-Leiga (CAL) 15-21, 21-15, 15-13
2. Charlie Ekstrom and Maya Harvey (STAN) def. Ashley Delgado and Ainsley Radell (CAL) 21-19, 15-21, 15-13
3. Kate Reilly and Emmy Sharp (STAN) def. Natalie Martin and Maya Gessner (CAL) 21-17, 21-15
4. Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent (STAN) def. Lexi McKeown and Ella Dreibholz (CAL) 21-19, 22-20
5. Brooke Buchner and Alex Young-Gomez (CAL) def. Line Andersson and Daria Gusarova (STAN) 17-21, 21-17, 15-13
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3*, 5, 1
