Oct. 6, 2000
STANFORD, Calif. -- The Stanford Cardinal defeated Washington State 15-7, 10-15, 15-5, 15-13, Friday night at Maples Pavilion on the Stanford campus.
In winning game two, the Cougars broke a 27 consecutive game win streak for the Cardinal at Maples Pavilion that dated back to the 1992 season (Stanford won 3-1) and includes a Stanford sweep in the 1996 NCAA regional finals.
Washington State falls to 10-5 overall, 1-5 in Pacific-10 Conference play, while Stanford moves to 8-6 overall, 3-4 in conference play.
Stanford was led by the 24 kills and 26 digs of Tara Conrad. Jennifer Detmer added 15 kills and 12 blocks to the Cardinal win. WSU' s LaToya Harris had 24 kills and 26 digs, both career-highs. Stanford out-blocked WSU 23 to 6.
The Cardinal roared to an 11-0 lead in game one, mostly on the hitting errors of the Cougars. Behind 13-2, WSU laced together five straight points, including back-to-back aces served by LaToya Harris. But it was too little, too late. After trading sideouts, Stanford's Sara Dukes had consecutive kills and Jennifer Detmer slammed Zanda Bautre's kill back on the Cougar side of the court for the 15-7 win.
WSU took a 10-1 game two lead but could not close the door. Stanford fought back to within three at 9-12 after subbing in freshman Anna Robinson for hobbling senior setter, Lindsay Kagawa (achilles). The Cougs nabbed their 13th point after Ashley Ivy was called in the net. Sara McGee closed the gap again with a kill for Stanford's 10th and final point. Kali Surplus served an ace but Michelle Chambers stopped WSU at the first serve at game point. Conrad's hitting error gave the Cougars a reprieve and Detmer's lift gave WSU the 15-10 win.
Stanford rolled to a 15-5 win in the third game, allowing Washington State consecutive points only once. WSU hit a paltry .019 while Stanford hit .239 in this game.
The home team Cardinal had a 10-6 lead in game four before WSU knotted the game at 11. A Cougar hitting error gave Stanford 12 and Ivy's kill upped their total to 13. A lift by Kagawa kept WSU in contention with 12. After eight sideouts, the Cougars tied the game on a tip by Bautre. Schafer's serve into the net was compounded when Melissa Boyle hit long to put Stanford at game point. After a WSU timeout, Detmer slammed the ball down the net for the 15-13 game win.
"I guess there is some consolation in winning the first game since 1992, but at the same time, you're playing a team that isn't nearly as good as they used to be," Cougar coach Cindy Fredrick said. "When you get out-blocked 23 to 6, that doesn't say very much for what the middle blockers are getting done out there. When the middle blockers hit .067 (Kightlinger) and .053 (H. Harris), we have to have a better performance out of the middle than that."
Washington State plays California at Berkeley, Saturday night.
Stanford (8-6, 3-4) def. Washington State (10-5, 1-5) 15-7, 10-15, 15-5, 15-13
STATISTICS:
KILLS: L. Harris (WSU) 24, Conrad (SU) 24.
ASSISTS: Surplus (WSU) 64, Kagawa (SU) 33, Robinson 32.
SERVICE ACES: L. Harris (WSU) 2, Surplus (WSU) 2, Lewis (WSU) 2, Three (SU) 1 each.
DIGS: L. Harris (WSU) 26, Conrad (SU) 26.
BLOCKS: H. Harris (WSU) 4, Detmer (SU) 12.
Attendance: 814.
