Match Stats
- #6 Stanford def. Cal Baptist 3-2, (25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 25-16, 15-11)
- Stanford improves to 9-5, 6-3 MPSF
- Cal Baptist falls to 3-11, 1-9 MPSF
- Hosted by Cal Baptist
- Match Stats
#6 Stanford fought from behind to take a five set victory over Cal Baptist on the road. The Cardinals jumped to a quick lead after taking the first set 25-20. However, Cal Baptist was able to capitalize in the next two sets, taking a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Cardinals decided to switch things up in the fourth and fifth sets, allowing freshmen, Paul Bischoff to start as setter while Eric Beatty replaced Mason Tufaga at opposite side hitter. With a change in lineup and a number of service errors in the fourth set, Stanford was able to tie the match up at two all, forcing a fifth and deciding set. The Cardinals had no troubles taking the fifth set at 15-11, ending the match with a 3-2 Stanford victory
Leading Stanford was Jordan Ewert with 16 kills and Gabriel Vega close behind with 15 for the match. Vega also picked up seven digs in the match and Stephen Moye added four blocks.
For Cal Baptist, Kevin Vaz slammed down a career-best 25 kills while Luis Palos added 11. Rohit Paul contributed nine digs, three aces and 10 digs.
Press Release
Courtesy of Stanford Athletics
Jordan Ewert and Gabriel Vega combined for 31 of Stanford’s 50 kills in a 25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 25-16, 15-11 win at Cal Baptist, Saturday at Van Dyne Gym.
It marked the third time this season in which the sixth-ranked Cardinal (9-5, 6-3 MPSF) rallied back from a deficit to win in five sets. Stanford out hit Cal Baptist .356 to .306, and held advantages in blocks (6.5-5.0) and service aces (7-5).
With the match tied 1-1, Cal Baptist (3-11, 1-9 MPSF) won the pivotal third set putting Stanford’s backs up against the figurative wall. The Cardinal limited its offensive errors in the final two sets, while holding the Lancers to a combined .047 hitting percentage.
Ewert recorded a team-high 16 kills on .306 hitting to go with five digs, three aces and three blocks. Vega added 15 kills on a season-best .481 attack percentage and a season-high seven digs.
Stanford tweaked its lineup in the fourth and fifth sets with freshman Paul Bischoff starting at setter and freshman Eric Beatty replacing Mason Tufuga at opposite. Bischoff, who took over for junior Kyle Dagostino (19 assists), notched 20 assists, two kills, two digs and two blocks, while Beatty hit .750 with six kills on eight errorless swings to go with five digs.
Stanford’s middle blockers, redshirt junior Kevin Rakestraw and freshman Stephen Moye, combined for eight kills and six blocks. Junior libero Evan Enriques collected five digs and matched his career-high with five assists. Enriques’ younger brother, Emmett, had two digs, an assist and a kill for the Lancers.
Cal Baptist was led by Kevin Vaz, who tallied a match-high 25 kills. Luis Palos chipped in with 11 kills, six digs and three blocks, while Rohit Paul turned in nine kills and 10 digs for the Lancers.
Stanford returns to the Farm to play host to No. 3 BYU for a pair of matches next week. The Cardinal and Cougars will square off on Thursday, Feb. 23 in Maples Pavilion and on Friday, Feb. 24 in Burnham Pavilion.
Press Release
Courtesy of Cal Baptist Athletics
California Baptist University took sixth-ranked Stanford to the wire Saturday night, just dropping a 3-2 match (25-20, 20-25, 17-25, 25-16, 15-11).
The Lancers drop to 3-11 on the season, 1-9 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Cardinal improves to 9-5 overall and 6-3 in conference play with the win.
Kevin Vaz led with a new career-high of 25 kills (25-12-35) on the match – after previously setting a career best of 20 kills on Thursday – and posted two blocks, including one solo stuff. Luis Palos also had a double-digit night, finishing with 11 kills. Defensively, he had three blocks and six digs. Rohit Paul posted nine kills and 10 digs to be just one kill shy of a double-double, while Caleb Miller had eight kills and three blocks. Jacob Tarabetz finished the night with a career-high 52 assists.
Stanford opened the match swinging, but CBU held up the defensive end, keeping Stanford runs at bay. The Cardinal managed to take the first set, however, 25-20.
CBU exploded into set two, taking hold of the set early and maintaining a two-point cushion between the Cardinal. The set was back-and-forth as the two teams battled for the lead. Service errors allowed Stanford to take the lead before a kill by Vaz quickly evened out the score.
Late in the set holding onto a 22-20 lead, an ace by Paul forced a Stanford timeout and sparked a 2-0 run in CBU’s favor by Miller and Palos. Miller came up with the final kill of the set to seal the deal, giving the Lancers the 25-20 set victory to even the match 1-1.
Momentum carried into the third as the Lancers burst out on a 5-0 run, forcing another Cardinal timeout. A dominant offense put the pressure on Stanford and sent CBU running away with the set as the home team never relinquished its lead, claiming the set 25-17 to jump in front 2-1 in the match.
Stanford regained its footing in the fourth, capitalizing off service errors to take the set 25-16 and force a fifth and deciding set.
The Cardinal held onto the lead early in the fifth, despite CBU’s efforts for a comeback. Stanford managed to keep the comeback attempt at bay, however, securing the 15-11 set victory to take the match 3-2.
CBU heads out on the road for its next 10 matches before returning home on March 30 to host UC Santa Barbara. The Lancers first take on No. 2-ranked Long Beach State on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
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