STANFORD, Calif. – The top-ranked Stanford women’s volleyball team hit a season-best .523 as it swept visiting Santa Clara, 25-14, 25-15, 25-11, Saturday, in the Stanford Invitational at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal has started the season 7-0 for the first time since 2010. The Broncos (8-2) lost for just the second time.
Stanford looked poised and focused against Santa Clara, committing just one attack error on the night. The Cardinal also had a strong presence at the net, posting a season-best 15.0 blocks. The Broncos hit just .096.
Outside hitter Jordan Burgess, the tournament MVP, and middle blockers Inky Ajanaku and Merete Lutz all tallied nine kills to lead the Cardinal. Burgess finished with nine digs, while Ajanaku and Lutz combined for 13 blocks. No Stanford player hit under .348 in the match.
Junior outside hitter Brittany Howard posted eight kills for the fourth straight match to go with a season-best five blocks. Senior opposite Morgan Boukather added six kills on a .455 hitting percentage and five blocks, while freshman Sidney Brown notched two kills on three attempts in one set.
Junior setter Madi Bugg finished with 35 assists, seven digs and four kills. Senior libero Kyle Gilbert tallied a match-high 18 digs, including nine in the first set.
Senior Taylor Milton led Santa Clara with 12 kills and seven digs, while middle blocker Kaity Edwards finished with six kills on a .333 hitting percentage. Junior libero Danielle Rottman recorded 12 digs for the Broncos.
Joining Burgess on the all-tournament team from Stanford were Lutz and Gilbert. Edwards, Milton, Alexis Genske of Penn and Alyse Whitaker of Duke were also all-tournament selections.
The Cardinal closes out the non—conference portion of its schedule on the road next week in San Diego, Calif. Stanford faces No. 13 San Diego on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The Cardinal will take on Eastern Washington on Friday, Sept. 19 and Cal State Northridge on Saturday, Sept. 20.