Despite playing with a complete lineup for the first time all season - including junior outside hitter Kim Glass and sophomore outside hitter Meghan Cumpston - the No. 14 Arizona volleyball team (8-3, 0-1) fell to No. 12 Stanford in three games (30-23, 30-26, 30-22) in its Pacific 10 Conference opener last night in Stanford, Calif.
The Cardinal's sweep improved the team to 8-2 on the year, as they out-blocked the Wildcats 9-6 and held Arizona to a season-low hitting percentage of .117.
In her first match of the season, the All-American Glass led the Wildcats with 10 kills, four blocks and seven digs. Sophomore setter Stephanie Butkus contributed 28 assists while senior libero Kelli Mulvany had a team-high nine digs. Junior outside hitter Jennifer Abernathy, ranked third in the Pac-10 in kills entering the game, recorded eight kills, seven digs and three service aces.
The Wildcats continue conference play tonight at 7 as they travel to Berkeley, Calif., to take on No. 16 California (5-3). The Golden Bears defeated Arizona State last night, 3-1 at home.
The Golden Bears finished second in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Volleyball Invitational last weekend, finishing the tournament with a 1-1 record. California was defeated by No. 6 Hawaii but swept UC-Irvine, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Arizona leads the all-time series against California 30-8. In the last meeting between the two schools on Oct. 31, 2003, the Wildcats swept the Bears in Berkeley. Arizona is 15-3 while competing at the Bear's home, Haas Pavilion.
California's senior outside hitter Gabrielle Abernathy, sister of Arizona's Jennifer Abernathy, is averaging 3.46 kills and 1.67 digs per game. In the four matches since Jennifer became a Wildcat, the two schools are tied with two wins apiece. Freshman Angie Pressey leads in the Bears with 4.47 kills and 2.41 digs per game, while libero Jillian Davis tops the Pac-10 with 5.5 digs per game.