2008 Woodie Awards
Volleyball splits weekend at Stanford Invitational
Powerhouse Stanford proves too much for young Gael squad
Zack Farmer
Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: Sports
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The Gaels came out flat against the Anteaters losing the first set 30-24, while hitting only a .077 percentage.
However, they roared back in the second set with a blistering .441 kill percentage while recording 16 kills and only one error. The Gaels won in four sets winning by at least eight kills in each of the three final sets.
The Gaels had their second best hitting match of the season with a solid .292 percentage despite their first game.
Sophomore Missie Stidham led the Gaels with 21 kills on 47 attempts along with eight digs. Christina Kirk '07 added 19 kills while recording a .533 hit percentage. She led the Gaels with 27 points.
On Saturday, the Gaels competed against the #7 Cardinal and could not come through against the host team, losing in three sets.
They played tough against the Cardinal. The Gaels took a 19-14 lead in the first set during a 4-0 run, highlighted by kills from Kirk, Taylor Groess '09, and Mandy Bible '07. Later in the set, the Gaels increased their lead to 24-18 before Stanford went on an 12-3 run and took the set 30-27.
The Gaels tried to battle back in the second set and took an early 8-4 lead, but the Cardinal battled back, tied the match, and never looked back.
In the third set, the Cardinal took command immediately and did not relinquish it, as they took the set 30-19.
The Gaels were held to a .155 kill percentage, their lowest of the season. Stidham led the Gaels in kills with 16 and Groess chipped in with ten on 27 attempts.
Stanford sophomore Foluke Akinradewo led the Cardinal with 15 kills.
The split leaves the Gaels even at 5-5 for the season and sixth in the conference, just one match behind Portland for fifth place.
This week, the Gaels will have two matches at home, including the Alumni Match on Friday night and Sacramento State on Saturday night at the renovated McKeon Pavilion at 7 p.m.
The Gaels posted a 7-1 record at home last season and is 4-23 all-time against Sacramento State. However, the Gaels have won the last two meetings, the last on December 2, 2004, when the Gaels won 3-1.