February 11, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

Cardinal women's tennis wins USTA indoor title

by Rick Eymer

Winning the USTA/ITA National Women's Indoor Championship doesn't always translate into an NCAA team title, but it's still a nice stepping stone for second-ranked Stanford as it prepares for the rigors of a long season.

Top-seeded Stanford looked formidable in beating Georgia, 5-0, at Wisconsin's A.C. Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Sunday to capture the event for a record seventh time, and for the first time since 2001.

The lower half of the Cardinal ladder was impressive all week, as senior Lauren Barnikow, freshman Theresa Logar and senior Emilia Anderson each went 4-0 in the four-day tournament, and each of them took turns playing in the clinching victory.

Logar, already a veteran of the U.S. Open after winning the Girls' 18 title at the USTA National Hardcourt Championships in San Jose last summer, clinched the title match at No. 5 singles with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Georgia's Jitka Schonfeldova.

"Georgia was a really good contest, as it always is," Stanford coach Lele Forood said. "We're just happy about where we're at right now. This tournament is always a good test for us."

Stanford (6-0) returns home to Taube Tennis Center for a match against UNLV on Friday at 1:30 p.m.

The Cardinal advanced to the championship with a 5-0 victory over Pac-10 rival Washington in the semifinals. Stanford beat UCLA, 6-1, in the second round after opening with a win over William and Mary.

Stanford has won 54 of its 64 matches played in the event's 17-year history, which includes a 5-1 mark against the Lady Bulldogs.

Anderson clinched the match against Washington with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Saskia Nauenberg at No. 6 singles on Saturday. The doubles team of Alice Barnes and Amber Liu secured the doubles point. During the weekend, Liu earned the USTA Sportsmanship Award based on a vote by coaches.

Barnikow clinched the win over UCLA by beating Sarah Gregg, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, at No. 4 singles on Friday. Barnikow and junior Erin Burdette, last year's Pac-10 Doubles Team of the Year, clinched the doubles point for Stanford with an 8-5 victory over Jackie Carleton and Lauren Fisher of UCLA.
Baseball

Following a tough 3-1 loss to host Fresno State on Friday night, in which sixth-ranked Stanford was limited to two hits, the Cardinal exploded for 23 runs on 29 hits the next two days to win their fifth straight series against the Bulldogs.

Stanford (5-1) won Sunday's game, 10-3, after winning on Saturday, 13-4.

David O'Hagan pitched a career-high six innings after taking over for Mark Jecmen in the first inning to earn the victory on Sunday. He did not allow a run on four hits and struck out eight.

Stanford rallied from a 3-0 deficit as John Mayberry, Jr. and Danny Putnam each had three of the team's 15 hits. Donny Lucy, Brian Hall and Adam Sorgi each had two hits.

On Saturday, the Cardinal parlayed a season-high five home runs into an easy victory, including two from Mayberry, Jr., who also drove in three runs. Jed Lowrie, Putnam and Chris Carter also went deep. Lowrie drove in four runs.

Jeff Gilmore earned his first career victory by holding the Bulldogs to three runs, two earned, and six hits over a career-high six innings and eight strikeouts. Freshman Blake Holler earned his second save in as many outings with another three-inning effort.

"This was a really important day for us," said Mayberry. "We wanted to go out and show what type of offensive team we are."

Stanford opens a three-game series with Kansas beginning Friday (6 p.m.) in Sunken Diamond. Games continue Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.).

Gymnastics

Top-ranked UCLA defeated visiting Stanford, 197.975-196.425, in a Pac-10 women's meet on Sunday.

The seventh-ranked Cardinal were led by sophomore All-American Natalie Foley, who finished third in the all-around with a score of 39.550.

In men's action, Dan Gill finished eighth in the overall competition with a score of 54.050 at the Winter Cup in Las Vegas on Saturday. Gill earned a spot in the Senior National Team and will participate in the Olympic trials. Stanford grad Dave Durante was fourth all-around.

Softball

Freshman Jackie Rinehart collected two hits as 12th-ranked Stanford defeated San Jose State, 2-0, on Sunday to capture its own Stanford Tournament.

The Cardinal (3-1) beat San Jose State twice and split with Alabama in the two-day event.

Freshman pitcher Danika Dukes won in her first collegiate start, allowing one hit through four innings with three strikeouts. Sophomore Laura Severson earned her first save with three hitless innings.

Stanford hosts the Stanford Invitational this weekend, opening with Santa Clara on Friday at 3 p.m., followed by Missouri at 5 p.m.

Michelle Thiry went 3-for-4, including a home run, with three RBI in Stanford's 8-0 victory over the Spartans. Rinehart also had three hits and scored three runs. Lauren Lappin and Jessica Allister each drove in two runs.

Stanford opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Alabama as Rinehart collected another two hits. Alabama came back to beat the Cardinal, 2-1, in eight innings.
Men's swimming

Senior Markus Rogan won two events and Stanford finished 1-2 in four events, including sweeps of the 200 back and 50 free, en route to a 127-102 victory over host USC on Saturday.

The Cardinal improved to 6-0 in dual meets this season and 30-0 since the 1999-2000 season.

Rogan won the 200 IM in 2:00.74 and the 200 back in 1:56.14. The meet was swum in short-course meters.

Freshman Ben Wildman-Tobriner led the sweep of the 50 free with a season-best 22.54. He was followed by Bobby O'Bryan (23.37) and Scott Ransenberg (23.42). In the 200 back, freshman Hongzhe Sun followed Rogan in 1:56.40, followed by senior Peter Marshall in 2:00.04.

Senior Andrew Schnell won the 100 free in a season-best 50.71.

The Cardinal next will host Cal in the annual Big Splash on Feb. 21 at noon.
Track and field Senior Jill Camarena, a five-time All-American, tied her school record in the indoor shot put with a throw of 57-2 3/4 on Saturday at the United Heritage Classic.

Several other Stanford athletes qualified for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships later this year: Undine Becker in the 60 meters (7.76) and 200 meters (25.17), Nashonme Johnson in the 60 meters (7.84) and 200 meters (24.80), Lindsey Johnson in the 60 meter hurdles (8.70), Chinny Offor in the 800 meters (2:14.35), Samantha Shepard in the pole vault (11-11 3/4), Sarah Hopping in the weight throw (54-9 1/2), Curtis Goehring in the 400 meters (47.65), Lauren Jespersen in the 800 meters (1:52.39), Michael Garcia in the 800 meters (1:53.51), William O'Neill in the shot put (52-8 1/4), Solomon Welch in the triple jump (48-11 and Feranmi Okanlami in the triple jump (46-8 1/4).
Men's volleyball

Stanford fell to host Pepperdine, 30-27, 30-21, 30-27, on Saturday in a MPSF contest. The Cardinal (3-5, 5-7) were led by Ben Reddy with 15 kills. Pat Bomhack had 12 kills.

Stanford hosts Hawaii on Friday at 7 p.m. in Maples Pavilion.
Women's water polo

Stanford beat California, 7-4, in the third-place match of its own Stanford Invitational on Sunday.

USC won the title with a 12-4 victory over UCLA.

Stanford freshman goalkeeper Meridith McColl recorded nine saves to help beat Cal.

Senior Wendy Watkins and junior Hannah Luber each scored twice for the Cardinal.

Stanford defeated San Jose State, 11-3, earlier on Sunday as Watkins scored three goals, while sophomores Scotti Shafer and Hannah Luber each scored twice.
Wrestling

Tanner Gardner's recorded a crucial pin at 125 pounds to lead a dramatic Cardinal comeback in an 18-17 victory over visiting Oregon State on Saturday. It was Stanford's first-ever win over the Beavers in 29 meetings.

Oregon State held a 17-9 lead with two matches remaining. After Gardner recorded his pin, Paul Gross recorded a takedown in the final period to snap a tie on the way to a 7-4 victory.

Stanford defeated host Fresno State, 28-9, on Saturday.

Stanford (5-2, 8-4) hosts Portland State in Burnham Pavilion on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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