STANFORD, Calif. – No. 8 Stanford finished its appearance at the 2023 Pac-12 Championship with tough losses to both eventual champion No. 1 UCLA and No. 9 California Friday at the Beach Volleyball Stadium. The Cardinal finished in third place, matching its best-ever championship performance (same finish in 2021).
Juniors Kate Reilly and Emmy Sharp were honored as part of the Pac-12 All-Tournament team for their efforts throughout the conference title chase.
Stanford started the morning with a 3-0 loss to No. 9 California in the winners bracket finals, falling on courts one, two, and four to push the Cardinal into the contender's bracket for its second match of the day.
The Cardinal's second match of the day was a rematch with No. 1 UCLA in the contenders bracket finals with a spot in the championship match on the line. The Bruins came into the match with revenge on their mind and earned their spot in the championship match with wins over Stanford on courts one, two, and four.
Stanford now awaits the NCAA selection show, slated for Sunday, April 30 at 8 AM on NCAA.com, to see if the program receives an at-large bid from the committee to compete at the 2023 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship in Gulf Shores, Ala. The Cardinal's resume includes its third-place finish at the 2023 Pac-12 Championship, 11 wins over top-20 programs throughout the 2023 season, including the program's first-ever victory over 2023 Pac-12 Champion and No. 1 UCLA, and a program-record 28 wins.
#9 California 3, #8 Stanford 0
1. Sierra Caffo and Liz Waters-Leiga (CAL) def. Xolani Hodel and Maddi Kriz (STAN)- 21-19, 22-20
2. Ashley Delgado and Ainsley Radell (CAL) def. Charlie Ekstrom and Maya Harvey (STAN)- 21-15, 16-21, 15-11
3. Kate Reilly and Emmy Sharp (STAN) vs. Maya Gessner and Gia Fisher (CAL)- 16-19 UF
4. Lexi McKeown and Ella Dreibholz (CAL) def. Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent (STAN)- 17-21, 21-18, 15-8
5. Line Andersson and Daria Gusarova (STAN) vs. Brooke Buchner and Alex Young-Gomez- 17-19 UF
Order of finish: 4, 2, 1*
#1 UCLA 3, #8 Stanford 0
1. Xolani Hodel and Maddi Kriz (STAN) vs. Kelli Greene-Agnew and Lexy Denaburg (UCLA)- 19-21, 21-22 UF
2. Peri Brennan and Abby Van Winkle (UCLA) def. Charlie Ekstrom and Maya Harvey (STAN)- 21-19, 21-17
3. Kate Reilly and Emmy Sharp (STAN) vs. Rileigh Powers and Haley Hallgren (UCLA)- 21-16, 5-9
4. Jessie Smith and Marlie Monserez (UCLA) def. Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent (STAN)- 21-13, 21-15
5. Jaden Whitmarsh and Devon Newberry (UCLA) def. Daria Gusarova and Taylor Wilson (STAN)- 21-14, 21-14
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5*