AUSTIN, Texas – No. 2 Stanford captured two top-12 victories Friday, besting No. 12 LSU and host No. 6 Texas by matching scores of 4-1 at the Texas Invitational held at Whitaker Sports Complex.
The Cardinal (19-2) continued its winning ways, extending its current streak to seven victories, including six wins over top-20 ranked opponents. Senior Kelly Belardi became the first Stanford beach volleyball player to amass 100 career wins with her victory alongside partner Avery Jackson on court one over LSU.
Stanford opened its time in Austin with a 4-1 win against No. 12 LSU, marking its second victory over the Tigers in 2026. Junior Clara Stowell and sophomore Indigo Clarke secured the first match point with a 21-16, 21-13 win on court four, while junior Chloe Hoffman and redshirt freshman Elena Fisher held off a Tigers comeback attempt with a 21-12, 19-21, 15-9 win on court five. With her 100th career win in a Cardinal uniform, Belardi and Jackson clinched the overall match victory with a 27-25, 21-12 decision on court one. Sophomores Charlotta Bell and Logan Tusher added the match’s final point with a 21-10, 21-16 victory on court three.
The Cardinal secured its second victory of the day with a 4-1 win over host No. 6 Texas. The pairs on courts four and five set up a 2-0 lead early in the dual, as Stowell and Clarke achieved their second straight-set win of the day on court four, 21-14, 21-18, while the duo of Fisher and Hoffman once again held off a surging pair to earn their court’s point, 23-21, 17-21, 15-7. Belardi and Jackson clinched the match’s deciding point with a 21-17, 21-18 victory over Texas’ Piersma/Hashman on court one. Stanford’s Bell and Tusher posted the final point of the match with a 21-13, 15-21, 15-12 win on court three.
Stanford will be back in action at the Texas Invitational Saturday, taking on No. 16 North Florida and No. 17 Florida Atlantic at ATX Beach, with matches slated to begin at 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. PT, respectively. There will be no live scoring updates or live stream coverage.
No. 2 Stanford 4, No. 12 LSU 1
- Avery Jackson / Kelly Belardi (STAN) def. Kenzey McGatlin / Julia Sprecher (LSU) 27-25, 21-12
- Tatum Finlason / Skylar Martin (LSU) def. Ruby Sorra / Brooke Rockwell (STAN) 22-20, 21-18
- Charlotta Bell / Logan Tusher (STAN) def. Aubrey O’Gorman / Ryan Lambert (LSU) 21-10, 21-16
- Clara Stowell / Indigo Clarke (STAN) def. Zayna Meyer / Bella Lagemann (LSU) 21-16, 21-13
- Chloe Hoffman / Elena Fisher (STAN) def. Emily Hellmuth / Kate Baker (LSU) 21-12, 19-21, 15-9
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 1*, 3, 2
No. 2 Stanford 4, No. 6 Texas 1
- Avery Jackson / Kelly Belardi (STAN) def. Brecht Piersma / Katie Hashman (Texas) 21-17, 21-18
- Anna Pavelkova / Kacka Pavelkova (Texas) def. Ruby Sorra / Brooke Rockwell (STAN) 21-13, 21-16
- Charlotta Bell / Logan Tusher (STAN) def. Emma Grace Robertson / Lily Davis (Texas) 21-13, 15-21, 15-12
- Clara Stowell / Indigo Clarke (STAN) def. Chloe Charles / Eva Liisa Kuivonen (Texas) 21-14, 21-18
- Chloe Hoffman / Elena Fisher (STAN) def. Karin Zolnercikova / Noa Sonneville (Texas) 23-21, 21-17, 15-7
Order of Finish: 4, 5, 1*, 2, 3