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On to Finals

by gostanford.com
Apr 21, 2022

LOS ANGELES – For the first time since 2014, Stanford has advanced to the MPSF finals, knocking off No. 1 seed UCLA, 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 15-25, 15-11, Thursday, at Pauley Pavilion.

Stanford (14-13) is the lowest seed to reach the MPSF championship since 2011, and the first No. 5 seed since 2009. The Cardinal is the only MPSF team to defeat top-ranked UCLA this season, also earning a five-set victory at Maples Pavilion (March 11).

UCLA (21-4), which out hit the Cardinal .306 to .250, is the first No. 1 seed to lose in the MPSF Tournament since 2012. It was the first road win for the Cardinal since Jan. 11, 2020 and the first win at UCLA since April 9, 2011 and the first five-set win on the Bruins' turf since 2001.

Junior Will Rottman led all players with 22 kills and 10 digs, registering his third double-double of the season. Middle blocker Ethan Hill, a transfer from UCLA, hit .650 with 13 kills on 20 errorless swings and had a team-high five blocks.
 

Setter Nathan Lietzke dished out 49 assists and had three kills, six digs and four blocks. Libero Justin Lui anchored the defense, collecting 14 digs and three assists.
 

Outside hitter Kevin Lamp chipped in with 12 kills, while middle blocker Nathaniel Gates had four kills on .500 hitting, two block and an ace. Opposite Luke Turner finished with three kills, four digs and an assist.

UCLA was led by opposite Kevin Kobrine, who hit .500 with a team-high 13 kills. Outside hitter Ethan Champlin finished with 10 kills and five digs, while middle Merrick McHenry had nine kills on .529 hitting and five blocks.

Stanford will face No. 3 seed Pepperdine on Saturday at 6 p.m. for the MPSF championship and the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Championship.
 

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