STANFORD, Calif. — No. 3 Stanford beach volleyball returned home on Friday for some much better weather than its most previous set of home matches. With temperatures in the low 70s and plenty of sunshine, fans were treated to the Cardinal beating both North Florida and Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, with the Card running its record to 12-2. North Florida now sits at 9-5 while Texas A&M – Corpus Christi is 11-4.
Play began with Stanford cruising through North Florida in the fours and twos. Maya Harvey and Ashley Vincent (fourth flight) and Ruby Sorra and Taylor Wilson (second flight) were steady in their scores and seldom trailed. Harvey and Vincent won 21-18, 21-18 while Sorra and Wilson won 21-16, 21-17.
Things got much more chaotic once Stanford had clinched the team victory, thanks to Xolani Hodel and Brooke Rockwell winning 21-14 and 21-18. A pair of matches wound up seeing a lot of bonus volleyball, highlighted by Kate Reilly and Clara Stowell in the fives going 28-26 in the first set. Kelly Belardi and Chloe Hoffman eked out 15-13 win the third set of the threes to clinch a win and the sweep for Stanford. Serving was key early in that set for the Card, as they raced out to a 4-1 lead on the strength of two service errors and one ace of their own.
It was not as clean in the second match of the day, with Stanford hosting Texas A&M – Corpus Christie. Sorra and Wilson had no problem in their match, winning 21-15, 21-14, but Harvey and Vincent ran into some trouble after a solid start. They dropped the final two sets, including a close 15-12 third set to split the score 1-1 heading into the final three pairs.
That point would be the only one Stanford would drop all day, with the ones, fives (clinching point) and threes all picking up Harvey and Vincent to secure a second Stanford win.
The Cardinal will enjoy a 10-day hiatus in the schedule before returning to its home courts on March 25 for two matches against the West Coast Conference. Stanford takes on San Francisco at 11:00 am before hosting Saint Mary's at 1:00 pm.
#3 Stanford 5, North Florida 0
1. Xolani Hodel/Brooke Rockwell (STAN) def. Presley Murray/Madison Espy (UNF) 21-14, 21-18
2. Ruby Sorra/Taylor Wilson (STAN) def. Taylor Pierce/Michaela Rezentes (UNF) 21-16, 21-17
3. Kelly Belardi/Chloe Hoffman (STAN) def. Mariana Feliciano Sanchez/Mackenzie Murphy (UNF) 21-23, 22-20, 15-13
4. Maya Harvey/Ashley Vincent (STAN) def. Iris Fletcher/Hallie Phelan (UNF) 21-18, 21-18
5. Kate Reilly/Clara Stowell (STAN) def. Cameron Humphries/Hayden Wooldridge (UNF) 28-26, 24-22
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1*, 5, 3
#3 Stanford 4, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi 1
1. Xolani Hodel/Brooke Rockwell (STAN) def. Madison Morrow/Kristin Bobay (TAMC) 21-10, 21-14
2. Ruby Sorra/Taylor Wilson (STAN) def. Cassie Dodd/Chloe Tome (TAMC) 21-15, 21-14
3. Kelly Belardi/Chloe Hoffman (STAN) def. Hannah Doyle/Stephanie Young (TAMC) 21-12, 21-16
4. Elizabeth Cortez/Kela Moreno (TAMC) def. Maya Harvey/Ashley Vincent (STAN) 17-21, 21-15, 15-12
5. Kate Reilly/Clara Stowell (STAN) def. Jade Bennett/Tori Johnson (TAMC) 21-14, 21-18
Order of finish: 2, 4, 1, 5*, 3