No. 7 Stanford seashore volleyball (4-2, – Pac-12) claimed second spot on Saturday in their season opener at the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Seashore Common in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Cardinal started out off the match in a spherical robin against No. 1 UCLA (6-, – Pac-12), Saint Mary’s (2-5, – WCC), Stephen F. Austin (-5, – SBC) and No. 10 Hawaii (3-3, – BWC). The group defeated Hawaii in the semifinals to progress to the championship match, which it misplaced 4-1 to UCLA.
The 1st working day was a success for the Cardinal, commencing with a 4-1 get about Stephen F. Austin. Senior Maddi Kriz—who arrived at her 50th earn with the Cardinal—and junior Maya Harvey succeeded 21-12, 21-7 in the 2nd slot. In their 1st collegiate match, freshmen Ashley Vincent and Kelly Belardi were being also victorious, defeating Stephen F. Austin 21-14, 21-12 as the fourth pair. Sophie Kubiak, also a freshman, collected her first higher education victory alongside junior Emmy Sharp, beating the Lumberjacks 21-18, 21-16, as fifth-yr Charlie Ekstrom and junior Kate Reilly introduced in one more acquire for the Cardinal, 21-12, 21-17.
Stanford then secured a 3-2 victory more than Hawaii. The matchup also noticed Ekstrom obtain her 60th occupation gain, the second maximum of any seashore volleyball athlete in Cardinal heritage. Ekstrom and Reilly triumphed 22-20 in a restricted 1st established, followed by a 21-12 earn in the 2nd. Vincent and Belardi continued to shine, defeating Hawaii 21-19, 21-14. The 3rd pairing of sophomores Emma Morris and Taylor Wilson came out on best soon after a 3 set fight, profitable 21-14, 16-21, 15-12.
Stanford commenced the next day with a restricted 3-2 decline to UCLA, the event favorites. Vincent and Belardi amazed with a 21-16, 21-12 win on court four, but it was not sufficient to safe the victory as UCLA gained matches on courts just one, 3 and 5. However, Kriz and Harvey managed to article a robust overall performance on court docket two, returning from a one established deficit to conquer the prime-ranked staff.
Stanford responded perfectly to this slender defeat in their following matchup from Saint Mary’s, as they dominated the Gaels 4-1. Vincent and Belardi continued their unbeaten streak profitable 21-2, 21-13 when Kubiak and Sharp also won in straight sets on courtroom 5, 21-10, 21-10. The efforts of Ekstrom and Reilly on courtroom 3 finished the twin on a high observe as the Cardinal concluded working day two with a 3-1 document in round robin play.
Saturday afternoon observed a Stanford-Hawaii rematch in the semifinals in which the Cardinal knocked out the property team, 3-2. Wilson and freshman Line Andersson on court docket a few were being compelled to three sets, but managed to close it out 15-21, 21-18, 15-9. Likewise, on court docket five, Kubiak with her new associate, freshman Phoenix Clarke, arrived back again from a 18-21 reduction in the initial set to earn the subsequent two 21-14, 15-12 and clinch a place in the championship recreation. Stanford would face the Bruins at the time once more.
Regrettably, the Cardinal were being unable to avenge their earlier loss to UCLA as the Bruins claimed the ultimate match 4-1. UCLA swept the Cardinal on just about every court besides court four, where Vincent and Belardi firmly held their floor, extending their earn streak to six, 21-18, 21-16. Though Stanford had to settle for next place, Ekstrom was celebrated with the tournament’s award for best blocker.
The Cardinal resumes their time with household duals towards Portland (-, – WCC) and Saint Mary’s at the Seashore Volleyball Stadium on March 1 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
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