Stanford women's volleyball still has shot at second in Pac-10 Stanford women's volleyball still has shot at second in Pac-10 (November 16, 2005)

by Rick Eymer

If the Stanford women's volleyball team can take any solace in splitting two matches over the weekend, it's that the Cardinal remains in second place in the Pac-10.

That hold on second is tenuous at best after fifth-ranked Stanford (11-4, 22-5) dropped a 30-26, 17-30, 30-22, 26-30, 18-16 decision to visiting Arizona on Friday night. The Wildcats (10-4, 18-5) swept the season series from Stanford for the first time since 2000 and just the second time ever.

Stanford beat Arizona State, 30-25, 30-21, 30-24, on Thursday night, it's 11th straight win over the Sun Devils.

If the Cardinal can win its three remaining matches, including at home against No. 13 Cal on Friday night at 7 p.m. in The Big Spike, it would finish no lower than second. Arizona, California (10-5, 17-7) and No. 15 USC (10-4, 14-8) all have designs on second place, as well.

After hosting Cal, Stanford finishes its regular season on the road at USC and No. 16 UCLA, which is coming off an upset of previously undefeated Washington.

The Bears beat Arizona over the weekend.

Stanford would like nothing better than a strong finish to the regular season. Since 1980, the Cardinal has lost more than four conference matches three times and finished lower than second just once.

With six teams ranked in the top 25, though, every weekend is difficult in the Pac-10.

Stanford beat Cal in four games on Oct. 21 but also lost freshman outside hitter Cynthia Barboza for the season with a torn ACL. Since then, sophomore setter Bryn Kehoe broke a bone in her left hand during practice.

The Cardinal still has plenty of options available but the bench is getting a little thin. Kristin Richards has shouldered much of the load and combined for 51 kills over the weekend. She hit at a .333 clip against the Wildcats, but the team was held to .220.

It was another frustrating loss to Arizona. Stanford had three match points - just as it had in the earlier loss in Tucson - and couldn't put the match away.

In the fifth game, Stanford held leads of 14-13, 16-14 and 16-15 before the Wildcats scored the next three points for the win.

Arizona's Kim Glass, a Player of the Year candidate, had 33 kills in the match.

Foluke Akinradewo added 12 kills and Nji Nnamni had 11.

While Richards led the offense against Arizona State with 22 kills, it was team defense, which limited the Sun Devils to a .115 hitting percentage, that led to victory.

Richards recorded 14 of her match-high 23 digs in the first game and Arizona State was held to a minus .038 hitting percentage.

Men's water polo

Stanford stayed undefeated at home this season with a 14-6 victory over UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.

The fourth-ranked Cardinal (5-2, 16-5) remained in a second-place tie with California in the Mountain Pacific Sports federation. That tie will be broken on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Big Splash at Avery Aquatic Center, where Stanford is 8-0 on the year.

Peter Varellas scored five goals in the win over the Gauchos, while Michael Bury had three goals. Thomas Hopkins and William Hindle-Katel each scored twice.

Menlo School grad Jimmie Sandman recorded six saves in the net in his three quarters of work.

Men's golf

Stanford surprised the field by winning three of its four matches in the Collegiate Match Play Championship at Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. over the weekend.

The 15th-seeded Cardinal knocked off No. 2 seed Oklahoma State and No. 10 Coastal Carolina on Friday to reach the semifinals. After a loss to Georgia Tech, Stanford upset Arizona, 3-1-1 on Sunday, for third-place honors.

Rob Grube, Kyle Gentry and Zack Miller secured the win over Arizona.

Women's soccer

Stanford had more scoring opportunities but Saint Louis took better advantage of its chances and the Billikens took a 2-0 victory in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Santa Clara on Friday night.

Host Santa Clara beat Saint Louis on Sunday to advance into the Sweet Sixteen.

"We're proud of everyone on the team for working so hard and for hanging in there," Stanford senior co-captain Lindsey Hunt said. "We had some great opportunities. We just didn't get there."

Stanford out-shot the Billikens 21-7, but couldn't get the ball into the net.

Men's soccer

Stanford ended its season with a 4-1 loss to host California on Sunday.

The Cardinal (1-7-2, 4-11-3) fell behind 4-0 before Tunji Munabi scored.

Gunn grad Andrew Jacobson recorded a goal and an assist for the Bears, who will compete in the first round of the NCAA tournament this weekend.

Jacobson, a redshirt freshman midfielder, started all 18 games for Cal, scoring four goals and recording five assists.

Women's golf

After upsetting Tennessee, 3-2, in the first round, Stanford lost to Purdue, 4-1, in the quarterfinals of the Collegiate Match Play Championship at Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana, Kelly Husted and Mari Chun won their individual match-ups for the victory.

Wrestling

Stanford opened its dual meet season with a 32-8 loss at 14th-ranked Missouri on Friday night and rallied for a solid showing at the Central Missouri State Open on Saturday and Sunday.

Tanner Gardner, Josh Zupancic and Ray Blake each won individual titles as Stanford recorded 14 pins and amassed 48 wins from 14 different wrestlers.

Blake pinned his first three opponents and won five matches en route to the 165-pound title. Gardner had two pins and a technical fall on his way to the 125-pound title, and Zupancic had one pin as he earned the 149-pound title.

Freshman Tyler Parker advanced to the championship match at 141 pounds before falling.

Field hockey

Stanford senior Missy Halliday was named West Region second team on Monday by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Diving

Stanford's Cassidy Krug placed third in the 1-meter and fourth in the 3-meter to highlight action for the women's team at the Trojan Diving Invitational over the weekend.

Castilleja grad Sara Bowling was fifth in the platform competition.

For the men, Kevin McLean finished second in the platform, and Dwight Dumais was third in the 3-meter and fourth in the 1-meter.

Women's crew

Stanford finished fifth in the championship eight race at the Head of the Lake regatta in Seattle on Sunday.

The second varsity finished third and the varsity four was 10th overall.

At the Head of the Lagoon in Foster City, the Stanford novice won its event by over a minute.

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