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Francis Fuels Cardinal

by gostanford.com
Aug 26, 2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Led by sophomore Sami Francis, No. 14 Stanford opened the season with a 25-20, 25-15, 25-14 sweep over Lipscomb, Friday, at Allen Arena.

Playing middle blocker for the first time in her Cardinal career, Francis made an impact early and often. The San Diego native hit a career-high .667 with 11 kills on 15 swings with just one miscue. She also posted a career-best eight blocks.
 

As a team, Stanford hit .436, while holding Lipscomb to a .189 clip. The Cardinal tallied seven aces and racked up nine blocks.

Sophomore setter Kami Miner, the 2021 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, controlled the offense with 35 assists and finished with three kills, three digs and three blocks.

Miner distributed the ball well as all three of Stanford's pin hitters tallied eight kills. Outside hitter Caitie Baird hit .500, and had four digs, two aces and a block, while opposite Kendall Kipp led the team with three aces and had three blocks. Outside hitter Elia Rubin hit. 312 and notched a pair of aces in her Stanford debut.
 

Redshirt junior middle blocker McKenna Vicini posted a .429 attack percentage, recording four kills to go with a solo block. Junior libero Elena Oglivie anchored the defense with eight digs.

Seven Cardinal came off the bench in various roles, including three making their Stanford debuts – graduate transfer Emily Teehan and freshmen Kelly Belardi and Anna Pringle. Senior outside hitter Natalie Berty closed out the night with a kill on match point.
 

Stanford is back in action on Saturday at Tennessee State. The Cardinal and Tigers square off at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN+.
 

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