Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Stanford beach volleyball team rebounded from a loss against San Francisco earlier in the week to defeat Oregon, 3-2, and Portland, 4-1, in dual matches on Saturday at the Delta Owens Sports Complex.
“On the whole, it was a very good day. We got two wins and that will really help us going forward,” said head coach Denise Corlett. “Hayley and Payton have become our most consistent pair in terms of wins, and there is still a lot more potential for them.”
Stanford (4-3) got the day started with a 3-2 win against Oregon (0-2), the tournament hosts. Merete Lutz and Halland McKenna put the Cardinal on the board first, winning 21-9, 21-14 at the number three spot. Tami Alade and Karina Robinson lost a thriller, 22-20, 15-21, 16-14, in the number five position to even the score at one apiece.
Courtney Bowen and Jennifer DiSanto restored Stanford's lead heading into the final two games, winning 21-18, 16-21, 15-11, at the number three hole. Hodson and Chang clinched the match for the Cardinal, winning 24-22, 21-18 at the top spot.
Ivana Vanjak and Catherine Raquel lost the number two match, 21-10, 21-19, while Alexis Froistad and Robinson won the exhibition match, 21-18, 21-9.
The Cardinal continued its strong play with a 4-1 win against Portland (0-2) later in the afternoon. Alade and Robinson rebounded from their earlier loss, winning 21-9, 21-11 to give Stanford the lead.
Lutz and McKenna capped an undefeated day with a 21-14, 19-21, 15-11 win at the three spot to extend the lead, while Bowen and DiSanto lost a three-setter at the number four position, 22-20, 10-21, 15-12.
“Merete and Halland were very consistent all day,” said Corlett. “Our other two pairs of Courtney Bowen and Jenn DiSanto, and Tami Alade and Karina Robinson also had a good day.”
Stanford's top two pairs shut the door on the Pilots, with Vanjak and Raquel clinching the match for Stanford at the number two spot. They won, 21-14, 21-9, while the top pair of Hodson and Chang came back from a first-set loss to win, 20-22, 21-17, 15-7.
“Catherine and Ivana did a fantastic job bouncing back from the first match to clinch for us against Portland,” added Corlett. “Boise State was also 2-0 today, so we are looking forward to a good test tomorrow.”
Stanford returns to action tomorrow at Noon, taking on Boise State in the final match of the weekend.
Stanford 3, Oregon 2
1. Hodson/Chang (Stan) def. Nady/Brenner (Oregon) 24-22, 21-18
2. Agost/Vander (Oregon) def. Vanjak/Raquel (Stan) 21-10, 21-19
3. Lutz/McKenna (Stan) def. Benson/Frank (Oregon) 21-9, 21-14
4. Bowen/DiSanto (Stan) def. Page/Raske (Oregon) 21-18, 16-21, 15-11
5. LaPierre/Hall-Poirier (Oregon) def. Alade/Robinson (Stan) 22-20, 15-21, 16-14
Exh. Froistad/Robinson (Stan) def. Gill/McLaren (Oregon) 21-18, 21-9
Stanford 4, Portland 1
1. Hodson/Chang (Stan) def. Troutman/Robinson (Port) 20-22, 21-17, 15-7
2. Vanjak/ Raquel (Stan) def. Mandon/Lindburg (Port) 21-14, 21-9
3. Lutz/McKenna (Stan) def. Savoca/Gajda (Port) 21-14, 19-21, 15-11
4. Barker/Milovic (Port) def. Bowen/DiSanto (Stan) 22-20, 10-21, 15-12
5. Alade/Robinson def. Markwith/Sullivan (Port) 21-9, 21-11
Exh. Thompson/Gajda (Port) def. Froistad/DiSanto (Stan) 28-21
Notes:
-Freshman Tami Alade recorded her first career win against Portland.
-Hayley Hodson and Payton Chang improved to 3-0 as a pair on the season.
-Four of the Cardinal's seven games won came in straight sets.
-The pairs of Merete Lutz/Halland McKenna and Courtney Bowen/Jennifer DiSanto are tied for most games won this season at four.