MALIBU, Calif. – Winning in Malibu for the first time since 2017, No. 6 Stanford defeated No. 11 Pepperdine, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23, Saturday, at Firestone Fieldhouse.
Stanford (8-6, 1-1 MPSF) snapped a six-match losing skid, out hitting Pepperdine (10-5, 1-3 MPSF) .292 to .276. Both teams registered 12.0 blocks, while the Cardinal held a 3-1 advantage in aces.
Opposite Theo Snoey led Stanford with 13 kills, seven digs, three blocks and an ace. Outside hitter Alex Rottman added 11 kills on .321 hitting, a career-high six blocks and five digs.
An absolute rocket from Snoey ??
?? » https://t.co/fiSzwkafdJ#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/3hgTPU9IzZ
— Stanford Men’s Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 25, 2024
Stanford took advantage of 12 unforced hitting errors and 20 service errors by the Waves. The Cardinal, which hit above .300 in the third and fourth sets, posted a sideout rate of 73 percent for the match.
Setter Nathan Lietzke turned in his fifth double-double of the year with 38 assists and 11 digs. The fifth-year also tallied three blocks, two kills and an ace. Libero Luke Turner recorded six digs and a career-best seven assists.
In there ??
?? » https://t.co/fiSzwkafdJ#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/cxOuvcSaa8
— Stanford Men’s Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 25, 2024
After sitting out the first set, outside hitter Will Rottman started the final three for the Cardinal. The Santa Barbara native finished with nine kills, three digs and an ace. Sophomore Ryan DuRoss started the match at outside hitter, totaling four kills and a block.
A look at set point ??
?? » https://t.co/fiSzwkafdJ#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/hVN0quRglZ
— Stanford Men’s Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 25, 2024
Middle blocker Nathaniel Gates posted nine kills on 13 errorless swings to hit .692 – the highest by a Cardinal this season (minimum 10 attempts). Middle blocker Ethan Hill finished with a team and season-high seven blocks.
DuRoss & Hill send it ??!
?? » https://t.co/fiSzwkafdJ#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/UezgUzxmcr
— Stanford Men’s Volleyball (@StanfordMVB) February 25, 2024
Pepperdine was led by Ryan Barnett, who had a match-high 20 kills on .389 hitting to go with six digs and four blocks. Middle blocker Ethan Watson chipped in with seven kills on a .667 attack percentage and a match-best eight blocks, including two solo.
Stanford remains on the road next week, traveling to No. 2 Grand Canyon on Friday and Sunday. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
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