Jan. 19, 2000
Stanford, Calif. - The Stanford men's volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season falling 15-6, 15-4, 15-11 to eighth-ranked BYU today at Maples Pavilion. The loss drops the Cardinal to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.
The Cardinal was led by freshman middle blocker Curt Toppel (Pacific Palisades, CA/Loyola HS) who recorded 21 kills versus the Cougars. Toppel has tallied 20 or more kills in all three Cardinal matches this season.
Junior setter Josh Lukens (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel HS) led Stanford with 44 assists and eight digs in the three-game match. Sophomore outside hitter Marcus Skacel (Laguna Niguel, CA/Santa Margarita HS) recorded a season-high 16 kills and hit .636 for the match while digging three balls.
The Cougars (4-1, 1-1 MPSF) were paced by Joaquin Acosta's 18 kills and the 38 assists from setter Chris Pitzak. BYU blocked 25 of Stanford's attacks and held the Cardinal to a .224 hitting percentage.
Stanford will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 22, as they face top-ranked UCLA at Maples Pavilion. The match will begin at 7 p.m.
Note: Prior to tonight's match freshman middle blocker Curt Toppel earned Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Week honors after a recording 50 kills in his first two collegiate matches.
Toppel, consider to be one of the top freshmen in the country, compiled 21 kills in Stanford's first match of the season against UC San Diego (1/14) and followed up with a 29 kill performance versus San Diego State (1/16).