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STANFORD, Calif. – No. 2 Stanford (6-0) plays host to No. 6 Texas (3-2) on Sunday for its home opener in Maples Pavilion at Noon on ESPN. 

SERIES AGAINST THE LONGHORNS: Stanford is 22-10 all-time against Texas. Last season, Stanford swept the Longhorns for its first win in Austin since 2018, and the first road sweep over the Longhorns in program history. Texas won the most recent meeting between the two squads, a 3-1 decision in the 2023 NCAA Regional final at Maples Pavilion.

LAST TIME OUT: Stanford defeated both UC Santa Barbara and Pepperdine on the road earlier this week. The Cardinal posted a season-high 15.0 blocks in a four-set win over the Gauchos led by senior Sami Francis‘ career-high 10.0. Against the Waves, opposite Jordyn Harvey recorded a career-best 15 kills on .556 hitting, four aces and three blocks, while outside hitter Ipar Kurt had a career-high 18 kills on .536 hitting.

2023 SEASON IN REVIEW: Stanford closed out the 2023 season with a 29-4 overall record and a 24th conference championship with a 19-1 mark in the Pac-12. The Cardinal made its 42nd NCAA postseason appearance in 43 seasons, advancing to its 17th regional final since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1998.

HOME SWEET HOME: In seven seasons under Kevin Hambly, Stanford is 85-12 at Maples Pavilion, including 18-2 in the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinal won 32 in a row at home to begin Hambly’s tenure at Stanford. 

STACKED SCHEDULE: Stanford is slated to play 12 matches against teams ranked in the AVCA Preseason Poll, including seven against top-10 opponents. The Cardinal will take on No. 1 Texas (Sept. 15), No. 2 Nebraska (Sept. 18), No. 3 Wisconsin (Sept. 2), No. 9 Kentucky (Sept. 21), No. 18 Minnesota (Sept. 1) and No. 24 Marquette (Sept. 4) in the nonconference. Stanford will meet No. 4 Pittsburgh (Oct. 20), No. 6 Louisville (Sept. 29 & Nov. 30), No. 14 Georgia Tech (Nov. 9 & Nov. 27) and No. 20 Florida State (Nov. 3) in ACC play.

COACHES’ PICK: In its inaugural ACC season, Stanford was picked to finish second by the league’s coaches. The Cardinal captured three first-place votes and placed four on the Preseason All-ACC squad – middle blocker Sami Francis, setter Kami Miner, libero Elena Oglivie and outside hitter Elia Rubin.

MILESTONE UNLOCKED: Kami Miner recorded her 4,000th career assist on Sept. 2 in a four-set win over No. 6 Wisconsin. She became the seventh player in school history to reach the milestone. In the rally-scoring era to 25, Miner is third behind…