Stanford Volleyball Dominates in Long Beach Tournament Showdown!
Stanford women's volleyball, ranked No. 6, achieved victory against Long Beach State and Oregon State, improving to 3-1.
Stanford Volleyball Dominates in Long Beach Tournament Showdown!
No. 6 Stanford women’s volleyball kicked off their campaign in style this past weekend, taking control at the Long Beach State University tournament. The Cardinal, under the gaze of enthusiastic fans, made their mark with a convincing performance, defeating Long Beach State 3-1 before sweeping Oregon State 3-0. This brings Stanford’s season record to an impressive 3-1.
In their opening match against Long Beach State on Friday, the Cardinal faced a fierce challenge. Long Beach secured the first set, winning 25-18, thanks to a remarkable 11-3 run highlighted by Elise Agi’s three straight kills. Despite Stanford’s push to recover, a series of 10 attack errors hindered their effort in the first set. However, Stanford regrouped, winning the second set 25-19, fueled by Elia Rubin’s superb serving which helped clinch a 6-0 run.
Match Highlights
Stanford’s dominance became evident in the third set as they won 25-16, driven by Rubin’s four aces during a pivotal 9-0 run that solidified their control of the match. They capped their victory with a 25-20 win in the fourth set, managing to fend off Long Beach’s comeback attempts. In terms of key performers, Erika Sayer shined with 10 kills and five digs while Ipar Kurt contributed nine kills. True freshman Spencer Etzler made her mark defensively with 14 digs during this encounter. Overall, Stanford out-hit Long Beach State with a .244 to .218 advantage, confirming their strong offensive approach reports On3.
The following day against Oregon State, Stanford maintained their momentum, brushing aside the Beavers in straight sets (25-14, 25-16, 25-21). Jordyn Harvey led the charge with nine kills, supported by Julia Blyashov’s eight. It was a performance that showcased Stanford’s depth, particularly with the absence of seasoned middle blocker Reese Dunkle, as true freshman Erika Sayer stepped into the spotlight. Sophomore setter Taylor Yu notched 33 assists, highlighting her pivotal role in driving the team’s success over the weekend Long Beach State Athletics reports.
Looking Ahead
With their sights set on higher accolades, Stanford will face another tough test against No. 5 Texas on Sunday, September 7th, at 10:00 AM PT, which will be broadcast on ESPN. As the NCAA volleyball season heats up, it’s worth noting that Stanford stands poised in a competitive field that includes formidable teams like Nebraska and Penn State, both of whom are resounding contenders this season Just Women’s Sports notes.
As the season unfolds, Stanford’s blend of seasoned players and promising newcomers puts them in a powerful position. With the right strategy and continued teamwork, there’s every reason to believe they’ll be making waves in the rankings as the year progresses.