Third-Place Finish at 2024 Pac-12 Championship
TEMPE, Ariz. – No. 3 Stanford finished its time at the 2024 Pac-12 Championship Friday, earning a third-place finish with a win over No. 13 ranked and six-seed Arizona State, 3-1.
The Cardinal fell to eventual champion No. 1 USC in the semifinals by the same score to earn its second loss in the tournament and eliminate Stanford from contention for the conference title.
Stanford now sits at 31-5 on the season, continuing to grow its program-best single-season win mark with the victory over the Sun Devils. Senior Maya Harvey earned her 83rd and 84th career wins Friday, topping former Cardinal Charlie Ekstrom on the career charts. Stanford now has the three winningest players in program history leading the squad into its hopeful trip to the 2024 NCAA Championship in Gulf Shores, Alabama in seniors Kate Reilly (96 wins, 1st), Xolani Hodel (88 wins, 2nd) and Harvey.
Harvey and partner sophomore Ashley Vincent were honored as part of the Pac-12 All-Tournament team for their efforts throughout the conference title chase.
The Cardinal faced a battle with Arizona State Friday morning, meeting the host Sun Devils for the second time in the Pac-12 Championship. Harvey and sophomore Ashley Vincent secured the first point in a two-set battle, topping Haughy and Nieves Papaleo 21-14, 21-9 on court five, but ASU fought back with a come-from-behind three-set victory on court three, topping sophomore Kelly Belardi and freshman Chloe Hoffman 18-21, 21-16 17-15 to tie the match at one. Stanford punched back with a two-set victory on court one, as Hodel and freshman Brooke Rockwell snagged a 21-18, 26-24 win over Ava Williamson and Daniella Kensinger, and captured the win on court four as Reilly and partner Stowell topped Fitzgerald and Kirunchyk 23-25, 21-13, 16-14.
Stanford faced no rest before taking on its next battle with the number-one team in the nation just minutes after its matchup with Arizona State. The Cardinal earned the first match point as Harvey and Vincent captured a 21-18, 21-17 victory on court five, but USC won the dual with wins on courts one, three and four. Courts one and three took the Woman of Troy three sets to earn match points and Reilly and Stowell pushed USC's Pater/Seits to extra points in their second set before they could clinch the final point and win the match for USC.
Stanford now awaits the NCAA selection show, slated for Sunday, April 28 at 8 AM on NCAA.com, to see if the program receives an at-large bid from the committee to compete at the 2024 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship in Gulf Shores, Ala for the fourth consecutive season. The Cardinal has a strong resume, spending the entirety of the season ranked in the top three of the AVCA Coaches poll while recording 20 wins over ranked opponents and topping current No. 1 USC and No. 2 UCLA each throughout the regular season.
#3 Stanford 3, #13 Arizona State 1
1. Xolani Hodel and Brooke Rockwell (STAN) def. Ava Williamson and Daniella Kensinger (ASU) 21-18, 26-24
2. Anya Pemberton and Arden Besecker (ASU) vs. Ruby Sorra and Taylor Wilson (STAN) match was unfinished 21-19, 21-23
3. Lexi Sweeney and Taryn Ames (ASU) def. Kelly Belardi and Chloe Hoffman (STAN) 18-21, 21-16, 17-15
4. Kate Reilly and Clara Stowell (STAN) def. Kate Fitzgerald and Ava Kirunchyk (ASU) 23-25, 21-13, 16-14
5. Maya Harvey and Ashley Vincent (STAN) def. Ava Haughy and Adri Nieves Papaleo (ASU) 21-14, 21-9
Order of finish: 5, 3, 1, 4*
#1 USC 3, #3 Stanford 1
1. Laynie Maple and Megan Kraft (USC) def. Xolani Hodel and Brooke Rockwell (STAN) 21-17, 17-21, 15-13
2. Madison White and Maddi Kriz (USC) vs. Ruby Sorra and Taylor Wilson (STAN) match was unfinished 18-21, 21-16
3. Audrey Nourse and Nicole Nourse (USC) def. Kelly Belardi and Chloe Hoffman (STAN) 21-19, 19-21, 15-11
4. Ashley Pater and Grace Seits (USC) def. Kate Reilly and Clara Stowell (STAN) 21-15, 22-20
5. Maya Harvey and Ashley Vincent (STAN) def. Mabyn Thomas and Madison Goellner (USC) 21-18, 21-17
Order of finish: 5, 3, 4, 1*