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By Rick Eymer
PA Weekly Online Sports Staff

For the sixth time this season, the Stanford women's volleyball team went to five sets before a match was decided. That's as many full-length matches the fourth-ranked Cardinal has played since 2004, when the team went the distance nine times (and went on the win the national title).

It was also the fourth time this season Stanford was on the wrong end of the fifth set, dropping a 25-18, 34-32, 19-25, 21-25, 15-11 Pac-10 match to No. 11 UCLA Saturday night at Maples Pavilion.

"Part of it shows how much we've had to fight this year," Stanford's everything-at-once position player Cassidy Lichtman said. "And part of it is playing in the Pac-10, where every match is a battle."

The significance of playing so many extended matches is relevant for the fact Stanford (8-3, 15-6) uses a myriad of younger players most of the time. The seniors who do play don't stay on the court full-time. Lichtman and fellow junior Alix Klineman do stay on the court.

The Cardinal rotated 10 players through Saturday's match. Two of them, including Menlo School grad Alex Fisher, were seniors.

"It may be hard for us now," Lichtman said, "but when we get through the Pac-10, there won't be many other teams in the tournament who played the teams we did in the Pac-10. It should help us down the road."

Lichtman, Klineman and senior middle blocker Janet Okogbaa, Stanford's three main offensive threats, have had to get used to freshman setter Karissa Cook, who was injured at the beginning of the season, during the season. It's still a process for the Cardinal.

Cook, who had 47 assists, 11 digs and a pair of blocks against the Bruins, has smoothly fit into the scheme of things. And she's only going to get better.

If we're going to make comparisons to the championship season of 2004, it should be duly noted that Stanford used a freshman setter who did get better in Bryn Kehoe. The Cardinal also upset Washington in a five-set match, although Burnham Pavilion was home court that year.

The school record for playing five-set matches in a season is 12. This year ranks fourth all-time.

While Stanford fell into a second-place tie with UCLA in the conference standings, it still retains its own destiny. Win out and the Cardinal, which also lost its first home match, will be Pac-10 champion.

That being said and this being the Pac-10, next weekend will be just as difficult to navigate as this past one. Stanford enters conference leader Washington's lair for a 7 p.m. match Friday and then goes to Washington State for next Saturday's 7 p.m. match.

"We just have to go to Washington and be prepared to play both teams," Lichtman said. "It's insane every weekend. When we look at the scores around the conference, it's crazy. Everyone is just so good."

The Huskies, who have been ranked as high as second in the nation this year, lost their first match of the season at Stanford three weeks ago. They have since lost a second time: to The Cougars.

Arizona State, which currently occupies last place in the Pac-10, owns victories over Washington State and UCLA.

Eight of the 10 teams entered the weekend ranked among the top 25. Oregon State and the Sun Devils not only have winning records but have defeated nationally-ranked opponents.

This is no garden variety conference.

Junior libero Gabi Ailes set a school record with 33 digs against the Bruins. She continues to be the most reliable at her position, arguably, in the nation. It's evitable she will become the school's all-time digs leader.

Lichtman recorded her seventh triple-double of the season with 18 kills, 18 digs and 13 assists. That's in addition to the seven other double-doubles she has secured.

Klineman had 20 kills on a career-high 72 attempts. Lichtman's 55 attempts were also a career best. Okogbaa had 17 kills and a hitting percentage of .412.

Hannah Benjamin produced 16 digs and two aces, and Katherine Sebastian came on to serve and opened the fifth set with an ace.

Stanford led 18-14 in the first set when it appeared Ailes had scored another point. The top official blew her whistle during play and immediately called for a replay. After much discussion from both sides, it remained a replay.

UCLA took advantage, scoring the next 11 points to win the set.

The second set was destined to be added to the good side of the Bruins ledger simply because Klineman was about to give the Cardinal a 23-21 lead with a resounding kill. UCLA's Sara Sage took the brunt of the spike, as it hit off her head, went back over the net and fell untouched for one of her seven kills on the night.

Twice a Bruin served a ball that hit the top of the net, teetered for a few moments and trickled over for points.

Even then Stanford came back from the brink any number of times to keep it going. There were 10 lead changes and the set was tied 25 times before UCLA finally grabbed it.

The Bruins beat Stanford for the first time since 2000, a stretch of 19 matches.

After the match, a jubilant Lauren Cook, UCLA's freshman setter, raced over to Andy Banachowski, now in his 43rd year with the program, yelled "Congratulations" and gave the venerable coach a big hug.

You couldn't help but smile.