Cardinal Advances

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After a 3-0 loss to No. 1 USC on Friday morning, No. 9 Stanford beach volleyball rebounded with a 3-1 win over Arizona State to keep its run alive at the 2021 Pac-12 Championships. Stanford (22-10) has now advanced to the final day of the conference championships for the first time in program history.
 
In the nightcap win over Arizona, Stanford picked up wins at No. 3, No. 1 and No. 4 to clinch. The win by Emmy Sharp and Amelia Smith was their school-record, 12th straight, improving their record to 18-2 on the season. The 18 victories by a single pair ties the school record.
 
Three Cardinal – Xolani Hodel, Smith and Sunny Villapando – won their 21st match of the season, moving within two individual wins of matching the school record of 23.
 
The Cardinal will look to keep its run at the Pac-12 Championships alive with a 10:45 a.m. showdown against No. 11 Cal on Saturday morning in the Contender's Bracket. The winner will advance to take on the loser of No. 1 USC and No. 2 UCLA, who play at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. 
 
No. 1 USC 3, No. 9 Stanford 0
Flight #1: Tina Graudina/Megan Kraft (USC) def. Xolani Hodel/Sunny Villapando (Stanford)
Flight #2: Charlie Ekstrom/Maya Harvey (Stanford) vs. Julia Scoles/Sammy Slater (USC) 15-19, unfinished
Flight #3: Haley Hallgren/Hailey Harward (USC) def. Maddi Kriz/Kate Reilly (Stanford) 21-13, 19-21, 15-11
Flight #4: Emmy Sharp/Amelia Smith (Stanford) vs. Joy Dennis/Delaynie Maple (USC) 13-12, unfinished
Flight #5: Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) def. Maddie Dailey/Jordan McKinney (Stanford) 13-21, 21-23
 
Order of finish: 5, 3, 1
 
No. 9 Stanford 3, Arizona State 1
 
Flight #1: Xolani Hodel/Sunny Villapando (Stanford) def. Katelyn Carballo/Lexi Sweeney (Arizona State) 21-17, 21-14
Flight #2: Charlie Ekstrom/Maya Harvey (Stanford) vs. Kate Fitzgerald/Emily Anderson (Arizona State) 24-22, 15-15, unfinished
Flight #3: Maddi Kriz/Kate Reilly (Stanford) def. Sarah Waters/Cierra Flood (Arizona State) 21-17, 21-14
Flight #4: Emmy Sharp/Amelia Smith (Stanford) def. Lila Bordis/Samantha Plaster (Arizona State) 21-18, 21-18
Flight #5: Lauren Weintraub/Taryn Ames (Arizona State) def. Maddie Dailey/Jordan McKinney (Stanford) 21-12, 23-21
 
Order of finish: 3, 5, 1, 4