Stanford Volleyball pulled off something even Nebraska and Pittsburgh couldn’t manage against SMU, ending their streak in epic fashion. SMU had been on an absolute tear, surprising everyone with their electrifying comeback season. They first made headlines by taking down the No. 2 Nebraska Huskers, sweeping them 25-23, 25-21, 25-18, and they did it with flair. This wasn’t just any win; it happened in front of a roaring, record-setting crowd of 6,773 fans at Moody Coliseum last month.

And they didn’t stop there. Only a few days earlier, SMU shocked everyone by defeating the top-ranked Panthers in a thrilling five-set match that left every spectator holding their breath (19-25, 25-22, 13-25, 25-23, 15-9). But all good things come to an end, and Stanford was the team to finally put a halt to SMU’s impressive run.

Stanford Volleyball shuts down SMU’s comeback streak!

In the match finale, Stanford Volleyball did what Nebraska and Pitt couldn’t pull off!  On October 16, NCAA Women’s Volleyball lit up X with some exciting news, announcing that No. 5 Stanford Volleyball took down No. 12 SMU. The post, full of hype and energy, proudly declared, “THE CARDINAL WITH THE SWEEP,” capturing the thrill of the moment as Stanford soared to victory. So, how did the Stanford Volleyball vs. SMU match play out?

Well, the Cardinal (14-2, 6-1) snagged an awesome win with scores of 25-22, 25-23, and a wild 35-33 in the third set. It was a nail-biter! They battled through some serving struggles—three aces but a crazy 22 serving errors. Stanford hit a solid .303, while SMU (13-5, 5-2) landed at .247 with two aces and 15 errors. This match had it all, with 44 ties and 20 lead changes!

Elia Rubin led the charge with 18 kills, while Ipar Kurt came through with 16, including the match-winner! It was dramatic, too—Kurt got blocked, but libero Elena Oglivie swooped in to save the day, assisting on the final point and finishing with 14 digs. With this sweet victory, Stanford is all set to take on the team that SMU beat last week!

The Cardinals are ready to clash with the Panthers!

Sure, the Panthers might be the top dogs in the rankings right now, but let’s not overlook that last week’s epic showdown with SMU where the Mustangs pulled off a stunning victory. And now that Stanford Volleyball has taken down SMU, they’re riding high on confidence and ready to tackle another challenge. The No. 1 ranked Pitt volleyball team, boasting an impressive record of 15-1 and 5-1 in the ACC, is set to welcome No. 5 Stanford, which comes in at 14-2 and 6-1 in the same conference, to the Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday at 3 p.m.

These sides have faced off five times before, and you can guarantee that the Panthers are keen to defeat the Cardinal for the first time in their history. Having won nine NCAA titles, Stanford is a powerful team that advanced to the 2023 Regional Finals after competing against Texas, the eventual National Champion. In the meantime, the Stanford Cardinals and Pitt Panthers have both demonstrated their elite position in college volleyball by amassing six Elite Eight trips between them over the previous four years.

For the first time as conference rivals, Pitt and Stanford volleyball are set to battle it out, making this a historic clash, especially since it’s been nearly three decades since the Cardinal last visited the Fitzgerald Field House back in 1994. With so much on the line and a rich history to draw from, fans can expect nothing short of an electrifying match!