Repeat Champions – Stanford Cardinal

LOS ANGELES – No. 2 Stanford captured its 21st Pac-12 championship with a 26-28, 25-14, 25-15, 32-30 win at No. 24 USC, Sunday, at the Galen Center.

Stanford (24-3, 17-1 Pac-12) won its second straight and fifth Pac-12 title under seventh-year head coach Kevin Hambly, The Montag Family Director of Women’s Volleyball. It marks the 24th conference championship in program history.

Opposite Kendall Kipp led the Cardinal with a match-high 18 kills on .340 hitting, 12 digs, four blocks and five aces. It was the fifth double-double of the season for the fifth-year senior.

As a team, Stanford hit .257 while holding USC (18-10, 12-6 Pac-12) to a .120 clip. The Cardinal racked up 64 digs, 12.0 blocks and 11 aces as it handed the Trojans their first home loss of the season.

Setter Kami Miner dished out 48 assists and had 11 digs for her 11th double-double of the season. The junior also recorded a season-high five blocks. Libero Elena Oglivie tallied her sixth 20-plus dig performance of the season, including four of her last five outings, finishing with a match-high 21 to go with three aces.

Middle blocker Sami Francis posted nine kills on .438 hitting and a match-high seven blocks. Outside hitter Elia Rubin turned in her 11th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs, while middle blocker McKenna Vicini hit .556 with five kills on nine errorless swings and had five blocks.

Outside hitter Caitie Baird chipped in with 11 kills, eight digs, a block and an assist. Defensive specialist Anna Pringle served tough in all four sets, notching a career-high three aces. The sophomore served seven in a row in the third to help the Cardinal take a 2-1 lead in the match.

USC was playing without starting outside hitter Skylar Fields. The Trojans were led by freshman London Wijay’s 12 kills and 15 digs. Setter Mia Tuaniga chipped in with 34 assists 12 digs and three kills.

Stanford has now won 13 in a row over USC and moves to 72-24 all-time against the Trojans.

Stanford returns to The Farm next week to close out the regular season. The Cardinal hosts Utah on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and Cal of Friday at 7 p.m. for Senior Night.