LOS ANGELES – Fifth-year Charlie Ekstrom's program-best matching individual career win No. 67 on court one in Stanford's final match of the Battle of Los Angeles sent the Cardinal home with its second split day of action on the weekend, topping Cal Poly and falling to No. 2 USC on Sunday.
Ekstrom now sits at the top of Stanford's record books with former Cardinal Sunny Villapendo, each earning 67 career wins.
Sunday started with a 5-0 loss to No. 2 USC. The Women of Troy took an early 2-0 lead with a two-set victory on court four and a three-set come-from-behind win on court two and did not relent with a sweep win on court one and three-set victories on courts three and five.
The Cardinal came back with a victory in its second match of the day, beating the Cal Poly Mustangs 3-2. After wins from freshman duo Kelly Belardi and Ashley Vincent on court four and junior Emmy Sharp and freshman Daria Gusarova on court five, fifth-year Charlie Ekstrom's 67th career win on court one with partner Kate Reilly secured the match win for the Cardinal.
Stanford next takes the sand for a battle at local foe No. 11 California March 18. Action between the Cardinal and Golden Bears is set for 1 p.m.
No. 2 USC def. No. 7 Stanford, 5-0
1. Megan KRAFT/Delaynie MAPLE (USC) def. Charlie EKSTROM/Kate REILLY (STAN); 21-16, 21-17
2. Madison SHIELDS/Madison WHITE (USC) def. Xolani HODEL/Maddi KRIZ (STAN); 17-21, 21-13, 17-15
3. Audrey NOURSE/Nicole NOURSE (USC) def. Maya HARVEY/Taylor WILSON (STAN); 17-21, 21-17, 15-8
4. Olivia BAKOS/Gabby WALKER (USC) def. Kelly BELARDI/Ashley VINCENT (STAN); 21-15, 21-14
5. Delaney KARL/Ashlyn RASNICK-POPE (USC) def. Daria GUSAROVA/Emmy SHARP (STAN); 18-21, 21-15, 15-7
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3*, 5, 1
No. 7 Stanford def. Cal Poly, 3-2
1. Charlie EKSTROM/Kate REILLY (STAN) def. Piper FERCH/Izzy MARTINEZ (CP); 21-17, 21-16
2. Jayelin LOMBARD/Piper NAESS (CP) def. Xolani HODEL/Maddi KRIZ (STAN); 21-19, 19-21, 17-15
3. Brooke GOLIK/Delaney PERANICH (CP) def. Maya HARVEY/Taylor WILSON (STAN); 21-17, 21-10
4. Kelly BELARDI/Ashley VINCENT (STAN) def. Julia SOELLER/Emma ZUFFELATO (CP); 21-17, 21-13
5. Daria GUSAROVA/Emmy SHARP (STAN) def. Addie BOUNDS/Susie LLOYD (CP); 21-15, 21-13
Exh. Phoenix CLARKE/Serena TURNER (STAN) def. Jenna DROBECK/Tessa GALLO (CP); 21-12, 21-18
Order of finish: 4, 2, 5, 3, 1*
