SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - No. 1 Stanford completed its time at the Center of Effort Challenge with a third-place finish at the event held at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday, earning multiple three set decisions to take down No. 8 TCU, 4-1, before closing out hosts No. 6 Cal Poly, 3-2.
The Cardinal (30-3) secured the third place finish with four, three-set wins on the final day to end the challenge with a 3-1 record.
Stanford’s day started with a 4-1 win over No. 8 TCU to finish pool play with a 2-1 record. Senior Kelly Belardi and sophomore Avery Jackson captured the first match point, dominantly beating TCU’s No. 1 pair of Beutel/Bradley, 21-15, 21-9. Juniors Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra also won in straight sets, defeating Reeves/Khmil 21-18, 21-15 to add the second Stanford point. The Horned Frogs then earned their lone point with a 21-15, 24-22 win over Stanford’s sophomore Indigo Clarke and junior Clara Stowell on court four. With the score at 2-1, the final two match points were determined by third-set victories by the Cardinal in both remaining matches, as sophomores Charlotta Bell and Clara Stowell defeated Long/Glenn on court three 21-14, 15-21, 16-14, while junior Chloe Hoffman and redshirt freshman Elena Fisher prevailed against Taylor/Mol 21-12, 16-21, 15-10 on court five.
Stanford ended the day with a gritty, 3-2 win over No. 6 Cal Poly in the third-place match to end the challenge at 3-1. Cal Poly took the opening point with a win over Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra just before Stanford leveled the dual with sophomores Charlotta Bell and Clara Stowell downing Perry/Adams on court three, 21-12, 21-16. Stanford snagged the next point of the dual with a comeback three-set decision from senior Kelly Belardi and sophomore Avery Jackson defeating Connor/Inskeep, 16-21, 21-17, 15-10. Stanford clinched the match with Indigo Clarke and Clara Stowell grabbing a three-set victory on court four, fighting off three match points to earn the win over Westby/Lenahan, 21-18, 18-21, 17-15. Cal Poly snagged the final point of the dual with a win on court five over Stanford’s Elena Fisher and Chloe Hoffman.
Stanford returns home for its final regular-season dual matches, hosting the Stanford West Coast Classic April 18–19. The Cardinal will face No. 6 Cal Poly and No. 9 Pepperdine on Friday at 1 and 5 p.m., respectively, before taking on San Jose State and Pepperdine on Saturday for 1 and 5 p.m. matches. Saturday’s battle with the Spartans serves as Stanford’s senior day. The Cardinal will celebrate the careers of Line Andersson, Kelly Belardi, Phoenix Clarke, Daria Gusarova, Sophie Kubiak, and Ashley Vincent in a post-match ceremony.
#1 Stanford 4, #8 TCU 1
- Kelly Belardi and Avery Jackson (STAN) def. Elea Beutel and Kaitlyn Bradley (TCU) 21-15, 21-9
- Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra (STAN) def. Stacy Reeves and Anhelina Khmil (TCU) 21-18, 21-15
- Charlotta Bell and Logan Tusher (STAN) def. Anna Long and Natalie Glenn (TCU) 21-14, 15-21, 16-14
- Morgan Williams and Sofia Izuzquiza (TCU) def. Indigo Clarke and Clara Stowell (STAN) 21-15, 24-22
- Elena Fisher and Chloe Hoffman (STAN) def. Hannah Taylor and Melina Mol (TCU) 21-12, 16-21, 15-10
Order of finish: 1, 2, 4, 3*, 5
#1 Stanford 3, #6 Cal Poly 2
- Kelly Belardi and Avery Jackson (STAN) def. Ella Connor and Erin Inskeep (CSLO) 16-21, 21-17, 15-10
- Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter (CSLO) def. Brooke Rockwell and Ruby Sorra (STAN) 21-15, 21-12
- Charlotta Bell and Logan Tusher (STAN) def. Quinn Perry and Ashleigh Adams (CSLO) 21-12, 21-16
- Indigo Clarke and Clara Stowell (STAN) def. Julia Westby and Elise Lenahan (CSLO) 21-18, 18-21, 17-15
- Hannah Byers and Maddy Byrne (CSLO) def. Elena Fisher and Chloe Hoffman (STAN) 17-21, 21-19, 19-17
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1, 4, 5