SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Sami Francis registered a career-high 10 blocks to lead No. 2 Stanford in a 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 25-15 win over UC Santa Barbara, Tuesday, at The Thunderdome.
Stanford (5-0) hit .208 as a team and finished with five aces and a season-best 15.0 blocks – three more than it had recorded in its previous four matches combined. UCSB (2-5) was held to .143 hitting and had three aces and 10.0 blocks.
To go with her career blocking night, Francis hit a season-high .562 with nine kills on 16 errorless swings. Also getting in on the action at the net were Lizzy Andrew and Ipar Kurt, who each registered a career-high five blocks.
Setter Kami Miner recorded her fourth straight double-double with 37 assists and 11 digs. The senior also notched three kills and three blocks. Libero Elena Oglivie racked up a match-high 16 digs to go with five assists.
Outside hitter Elia Rubin led the team with 13 kills, seven digs and three blocks, while Kurt turned in with 11 kills, two digs and two aces. Opposite Jordyn Harvey added 10 kills, three aces and a career-best two blocks.
Andrew chipped in with five kills, while defensive specialist Anna Pringle posted a season-high five digs in three sets played. Senior Taylor Beaven started the match and had two digs in the first set. Redshirt freshman Koko Kirsch made her season debut on Tuesday.
The Gauchos were led by Eva Travis’s 13 kills, eight digs and four blocks, while Andi Kreiling had nine kills on .500 hitting and a team-high six blocks. Stanford improved to 11-6 all-time against UCSB.
The Cardinal is back in action on Wednesday as it travels to Malibu to face Pepperdine at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.