STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford closed out the 2023 season with a 29-4 overall record and a 24th conference championship with a 19-1 mark in the Pac-12. The Cardinal made its 42nd NCAA postseason appearance in 43 seasons, advancing to its 17th regional final since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1998. Stanford finished the season ranked No. 5 in the final AVCA Poll.
Stanford produced five AVCA All-Americans as opposite Kendall Kipp and setter Kami Miner were repeat first-team selections. Outside hitters Caitie Baird and Elia Rubin were both named to the second team, while libero Elena Oglivie landed on the honorable mention list. The selections brought Stanford's total AVCA All-America award count to 115 honors spread over 47 players. The Cardinal has produced multiple All-Americans in the same season in 18 of the past 19 seasons.
The Pac-12 Player of the Year and AVCA Pacific North Region Player of the Year for a second straight season, Kipp led the team with 4.11 kills on .320 hitting. Miner and Oglivie repeated as Pac-12 Setter of the Year and Pac-12 Libero of the Year, respectively. A record seven Cardinal earned All-Pac-12 Conference honors. Baird earned her fourth nod to the all-conference team, while Kipp was recognized for a third time. Miner, Oglivie and Rubin were repeat selections, while Sami Francis earned a spot for the first time. McKenna Vicini landed on the honorable mention list for the second straight year.
Stanford won 12 of the last 18 Pac-12 championships. The Cardinal finished in the top 4 in the Pac-12 in 37 of 38 seasons, and the top 3 in 35 of 38 campaigns.
Stanford played seven consecutive matches against teams ranked in the top 25 of the AVCA Preseason Poll during its nonconference slate. The Cardinal notched 12 wins over ranked opponents in 2023, including seven top-10 victories. Stanford was 14-1 on the road - the most road wins in the nation.
In four NCAA Tournament matches, Stanford out hit its opponents .316 to .230. Rubin paced the Cardinal with 4.25 kills on .336 hitting, 2.44 digs and 4.75 points per set in the tournament. Kipp added 4.00 kills, 1.94 digs and 1.00 blocks per set. Miner dished out 11.88 assists per set, while Oglivie collected a team-best 3.94 digs per set.
The Cardinal played 17 matches against the 2023 NCAA Tournament field, posting a 13-4 record. Stanford was 8-1 against Pac-12 teams in the tournament, and picked up nonconference wins over (2) Louisville, (2) Texas, (8) Houston, Minnesota and Fresno State.
Kipp and Baird were selected College Sports Communicators First and Second Team All-Americans, respectively. It marked the second career recognition for Baird and the first for Kipp, who became the 17th Academic All-American in program history. The Cardinal now boasts 26 CSC Academic All-America awards all-time. Nine Stanford players earned Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll honors in 2023.
The Montag Family Director of Women's Volleyball, Kevin Hambly is now 171-37 (.822) in seven seasons on The Farm, mentoring 13 AVCA All-Americans to 26 awards and six CSC Academic All-Americans. Under Hambly, Stanford is 85-12 at Maples Pavilion, including 18-2 in the NCAA Tournament.
2023 Awards
Caitie Baird
• AVCA All-America second team
• VolleyballMag.com All-America second team
• AVCA All-Pacific North Region
• All-Pac-12 Conference
• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (10/9)
• Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference
• Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year
• CSC Academic All-America second team
• CSC Academic All-District
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Kelly Belardi
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Sami Francis
• AVCA All-Pacific North Region
• All-Pac-12 Conference
• Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference
Kendall Kipp
• Pac-12 Player of the Year
• AVCA All-Pacific North Region Player of the Year
• AVCA All-America first team
• VolleyballMag.com All-America first team
• AVCA All-Pacific North Region
• All-Pac-12 Conference
• NCAA Stanford Regional All-Tournament Team
• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (9/4)
• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (10/2)
• Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (10/23)
• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week (11/20)
• Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference
• CSC Academic All-America first team
• CSC Academic All-District
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Kami Miner
• Pac-12 Setter of the Year
• AVCA All-America first team
• VolleyballMag.com All-America first team
• AVCA All-Pacific North Region
• All-Pac-12 Conference
• Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (9/4)
• Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference
Elena Oglivie
• Pac-12 Libero of the Year
• AVCA All-America honorable mention
• VolleyballMag.com All-America second team
• AVCA All-Pacific North Region
• All-Pac-12 Conference
• Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (9/11)
• Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (10/9)
• Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (11/6)
• Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week (11/20)
• Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Anna Pringle
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Elia Rubin
• AVCA All-America second team
• VolleyballMag.com All-America third team
• AVCA All-Pacific North Region
• All-Pac-12 Conference
• NCAA Stanford Regional All-Tournament Team
• Preseason All-Pac-12 Conference
• CSC Academic All-District
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Annabelle Smith
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
Malia Tufuga
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
McKenna Vicini
• All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention
• CSC Academic All-District
• Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll