Card Holds Off Saint Mary’s

Box Score

STANFORD, Calif. – In a complete team effort, the No. 8 Stanford women’s volleyball team defeated Saint Mary’s, 25-17, 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, Friday, in its final non-conference match at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal improves to 7-2 on the season, while the Gaels dropped to 5-4 overall.

Four Stanford players finished with double-digit kills, while three tallied double-doubles on the night. Senior middle blocker Carly Wopat led the team with a season-high 16 kills to go with five blocks and three aces. Sophomore outside hitter Jordan Burgess registered her first double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Brittany Howard added 12 kills and 11 digs for her second double-double of the season, while senior outside hitter Rachel Williams finished with 10 kills, 12 digs and four blocks for her team-leading fourth double-double of the year.

Sophomore setter Madi Bugg spread around the offense, notching 50 assists to go with seven digs and season highs of four kills and five blocks. Stanford finished with a .255 attack percentage, while Saint Mary’s turned in a .222 clip. The Cardinal recorded 14.5 blocks on the night, led by sophomore Inky Ajanaku’s season-high eight blocks.

Stanford secured a 25-17 win in the opening set. The Cardinal hit .270 as a team while holding the Gaels to a .136 clip. Wopat paced the team with four kills, three digs and three blocks in the first. Howard added three kills, while Bugg racked up 12 assists. Junior Madelyn Hutson led Saint Mary’s with four kills.

The Gaels tied it up with a 25-23 win in the second set. Saint Mary’s hit .300 as a team, while Stanford again hit .270. The set remained close throughout as there were 14 tie scores and five lead changes. Burgess led the team with five kills and three digs, while Wopat added three kills. The Gaels’ Kristina Graven registered eight kills to lead Saint Mary’s.

Despite being outhit, Stanford answered in the third capturing a 25-21 victory. The Gaels posted a .321 hitting percentage to just .244 by the Cardinal. Howard and Wopat recorded five kills apiece to lead Stanford, while Bugg tallied 13 assists and two blocks. Graven again led Saint Mary’s with four kills and four digs.

Stanford put the Gaels away in the fourth, sealing the match with a 25-22 win. The Cardinal outhit Saint Mary’s .239 to .171 and registered five blocks in the set. Wopat secured the win with an ace on match point, and again paced the squad with four kills in the set. Burgess also added four kills and four digs. Graven finished with a match-high 18 kills for the Gaels.

The Cardinal begins Pac-12 Conference play next week, starting Wednesday, Sept. 25 at rival California. The match will be aired on the Pac-12 Networks at 7:30 p.m. PT. Stanford then returns home to host 18th-ranked Arizona State on Friday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. PT.