STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford sand volleyball team defeated Pacific 3-2, Tuesday, at the Stanford Sand Volleyball Stadium in Stanford, Calif. The Cardinal moves to 8-4 on the season, while the Tigers drop to 10-7.
The win avenges a previous 5-0 loss to the Tigers at the NorCal Invitational championship on March 7.
Stanford’s No. 1 team, Lauren Birks and Brittany Howard, clinched the win with a 26-24, 21-18 victory over Anne-Sophie Bauer and Lexi Elman. The pair improves to 11-6 on the season.
Also picking up wins for the Cardinal were Madi Bugg and Ivana Vanjak at No. 2 and Inky Ajanaku and Grace Kennedy at No. 5. Bugg and Vanjak topped Mia Feiner and Gillian Howard in straight sets, 21-15, 21-19 to move to 10-5. Ajanaku and Kennedy moved to 2-2 with a 19-21, 21-15, 16-14 win over Taylor Poncetta and Andie Shelton.
At No. 3, Jordan Burgess and Merete Lutz dropped a tough 21-19, 17-21, 15-7 decision to Pacific’s Kimmy Whitson and Alicja Wilk, fallilng to 8-4 on the season.
Also coming up short for the Cardinal were Kelsey Humphreys and Catherine Raquel. The pair fell to 3-4 overall after a 21-17, 21-17 loss to Megan Birch and Maycie LaBass.
Up next, Stanford plays host to Saint Mary’s on Tuesday, April 21. Matches start at 4:30 p.m. PT at the new Stanford Sand Volleyball Stadium.
Stanford 3, Pacific 2
1) Lauren Birks/Brittany Howard (STAN) def. Anne-Sophie Bauer/Lexi Elman (UOP), 26-24, 21-18
2) Madi Bugg/Ivana Vanjak (STAN) def. Mia Feiner/Gillian Howard (UOP), 21-15, 21-19
3) Kimmy Whitson/Alicja Wilk (UOP) def. Jordan Burgess/Merete Lutz (STAN), 21-19, 17-21, 15-7
4) Megan Birch/Maycie LaBass (UOP) def. Kelsey Humphreys/Catherine Raquel (STAN), 21-17, 21-17
5) Inky Ajanaku/Grace Kennedy (STAN) def. Taylor Poncetta/Andie Shelton (UOP), 19-21, 21-15, 16-14
Exh. Jessica Diederich/Katrin Gotterba (UOP) def. Sarah Benjamin/Karina Robinson (STAN), 21-9, 21-11