STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford men’s volleyball team plays host to the University of Saskatchewan for exhibition contests on Tuesday, Dec. 29 and Wednesday, Dec. 30. Both matches are slated for 7 p.m. in Maples Pavilion. Admission is free.
The Cardinal, ranked 13th nationally to start the year, was 10-18 in 2015, playing much of the season without injured All-America setter James Shaw. With Shaw back in the lineup along with two-time All-American Conrad Kaminski, the Cardinal is poised to make a run in the Moutain Pacific Sports Federation.
Senior Madison Hayden and redshirt junior Gabriel Vega also return to give Stanford expierence at the pins. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker Kevin Rakestraw will take on a greater role this season, while sophomores Kyle Dagostino and Evan Enriques received significant court time as rookies.
Stanford's freshman class consists of Russell Dervay (Virginia Beach, Va.), Jordan Ewert (Antioch, Calif.), Matt Klassen (Milwaukee, Wis.), Chris Moore (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Ryan Smith (Clovis, Calif.).
Stanford officially opens the 2016 campaign at No. 14 Ball State on Jan. 8. The Cardinal will also take on IPFW on Jan. 9 before jumping right into another challenging MPSF season. Stanford plays six of its first eight MPSF matches on the road, beginning Jan. 15 at No. 1 BYU. Stanford will have five of its conference matches televised on the Pac-12 Network.
