STANFORD, Calif. - In his 17th season at the helm of the program, The Birkhofer Family Head Men's Volleyball Coach John Kosty guided the Cardinal to a 15-13 overall record and a 6-6 mark in the MPSF (t-3rd).
For the first time in program history, Stanford advanced to the final of the MPSF Tournament in consecutive seasons, falling to eventual national champion UCLA at Maples Pavilion. Outside hitter Will Rottman and libero Justin Lui were named to the MPSF All-Tournament Team for a second straight year.
Rottman (second team) and Lui (honorable mention) were named AVCA All-Americans, while opposite Theo Snoey earned Freshman All-America recognition by Off The Block. The Cardinal finished the season ranked No. 9 in the AVCA poll.
AVCA ALL-AMERICANS: Outside hitter Will Rottman was named an AVCA Second Team All-American in 2023, and is now the 21st multiple-time All-American in program history. Rottman led the team in kills (323), aces (32) and points (374.5). Libero Justin Lui landed on the honorable mention list for a second straight year, pacing the MPSF with 2.10 digs per set - 12th nationally. The Cardinal now has 76 All-America awards all-time.
ALL-MPSF: Outside hitter Kevin Lamp and libero Justin Lui were selected to the All-MPSF second team, while middle blocker Nathaniel Gates and outside hitter Will Rottman landed on the honorable mention list. Opposite Theo Snoey was named to the MPSF All-Freshman Team. Stanford now has 113 all-conference selections all-time.
MPSF TOURNAMENT LOOK BACK: For the first time in school history, Stanford advanced to the final of the MPSF Tournament in back-to-back season, falling to eventual national champion UCLA at Maples Pavilion. Outside hitter Will Rottman and libero Justin Lui were named to the all-tournament team for a second straight year. Rottman averaged 4.33 kills, 1.58 digs, 0.67 aces and 5.29 points per set, scoring 32 percent of the team's points. Lui collected 1.67 digs and 0.75 assists per set.
COACHES POLL: Stanford, which earned one first-place vote, was picked to finish third in the MPSF by the league's coaches. UCLA, which received five first-place votes, was selected to win the MPSF, while Pepperdine collected the final first-place vote and was second.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Senior middle blocker Nathaniel Gates earned his second straight MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honor on April 10. Redshirt senior Justin Lui won three straight MPSF Defensive Player of the Week honors to start the season (Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Jan. 23).
MPSF STAT LEADERS: As a team, Stanford was third in the MPSF in digs per set (8.30), and fourth in hitting percentage (.298), kills per set (12.13), assists per set (11.47) and aces per set (1.24). The Cardinal was fifth as a team in blocks per set (1.93).
INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (MPSF)
Hitting percentage: Ethan Hill - 3rd (.429)
Kills per set: Will Rottman - 4th (3.67)
Assists per set: Nathan Lietzke - 4th (9.65)
Service aces per set: Will Rottman - 4th (0.36)
Blocks per set: Nathaniel Gates - 6th (0.87)
Digs per set: Justin Lui - 1st (2.10); Nathan Lietzke - 9th (1.48); Theo Snoey - 10th (1.48)
Points per set: Will Rottman - 4th (4.26)
IT HAD BEEN A WHILE: Stanford's win over Pepperdine on Feb. 18 snapped a 14-match losing streak to the Waves. The Cardinal defeated Pepperdine for the first time since Jan. 20, 2017, and it was the first home win for Stanford over the Waves since March 28, 2014.
ALUMNI MATCH: Stanford welcomed back alumni from several decades for a match against the current squad on March 25. Highlighting the alumni roster was two-time Olympian and bronze medalist Kawika Shoji. A 2010 national champion for the Cardinal, Shoji announced his retirement from volleyball in September after spending 12 years with the U.S. National Team and playing professionally overseas. A three-time All-American, Shoji was the AVCA National Player of the Year and the co-NCAA Tournament MVP for Stanford in 2010.
INCOMING CLASS: In November, Stanford signed four high school standouts to National Letters of Intent. The group consists of Ignacio Brito (Miami, Fla.), Nathan Clinton (Pleasanton, Calif.), Carson Kneisl (Arvada, Colo.) and middle blocker Gray Mandelbaum (Los Angeles, Calif.).
HEAD COACH JOHN KOSTY: Stanford head coach John Kosty completed his 17th season at the helm of the Cardinal program and his 33rd overall on staff in 2023. He is now 246-211 in his career. He guided Stanford to the 2010 NCAA national championship and the 2014 NCAA finals. The Cardinal has produced a first team AVCA All-America selection in nine of the 17 seasons under Kosty. Stanford has appeared in the MPSF Tournament in 14 of Kosty's 17 seasons (missing out in 2007 and 2015. The tournament was canceled in 2020).
