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NewsvineKawika Shoji may have been recruited as a setter, but as an outside hitter, the freshman has provided the Stanford men’s volleyball team with a much-needed spark. Since a lineup shift last weekend, Shoji has led the Cardinal in kills in the team’s last three matches — two of them Stanford wins.
“We’re feeling really good,” head coach John Kosty said. “This was exactly what we needed heading into Dead Week and finals. We are going into a nice break with a confident attitude. And now we have time to rest, time to take finals and time to rejuvenate for the rest of the season.”
After beating Quincy on Monday night, the Cardinal (3-19, 2-14 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation) split with No. 12 Long Beach State (9-9, 6-8) and UC-San Diego (5-15, 2-12) over the weekend, sweeping the Tritons after having beaten them in five games earlier this season.
After a three-game loss to the 49ers, Stanford beat UCSD 30-28, 30-25, 30-25, behind 15 kills and 12 digs for Shoji, both team highs.
“The team refocused — they understood what they needed to do and what they didn’t do against Long Beach,” Kosty said. “They were more competitive and had more fight in them. It was noticeable on the court and I was really pleased with the way we played.”
The first game on Saturday was tight from beginning to end, with the Cardinal holding the edge most of the way. UCSD led 24-20 when Stanford went on a 5-1 run to tie the game on a solo block by sophomore setter Miki Groppi. Later, Shoji put the exclamation point on the 30-28 win with a kill. He posted five in the game, while freshman Evan Romero led the way with six.
Stanford broke out of a nine-all tie in the second game with a five-point spurt to go ahead for good. With the Cardinal ahead 23-18, Shoji scored four kills in five points to put the game out of the Tritons’ reach. UCSD closed to within four, but Romero ended the frame, 30-25, with a kill.
The Tritons did not let Stanford pull ahead in the third, with the score tied as late as 20-20. Stanford stepped up its intensity, though, scoring the final three points of the match on kills by junior outside hitter Matt Ceran and Romero, and a triple block by Shoji, Groppi and freshman middle blocker Garrett Werner.
Behind Shoji and Romero on offense, Ceran and sophomore middle blocker Brandon Williams had nine kills apiece, with Williams hitting .533 on the night. The Tritons’ Jason Spangler had a match-high 20, the only UCSD player in double digits.
Shoji had a match-high 12 digs, while senior libero Brian Lindberg had 10. Groppi and Werner led the Cardinal with four blocks apiece, though UCSD outblocked Stanford 17-6.
“I think we have improved,” Kosty said. “Making the change and allowing Miki to set and putting Kawika outside has given us more ball control and offense in that outside hitter position.”
Against Long Beach on Friday, the Cardinal fell behind early in the first game, but did not let up. After trailing 18-13, Stanford used a 9-3 run to take the lead at 23-22. That was Stanford’s last advantage, however, as the teams traded points for the rest of the game, with Long Beach staying on top. The Cardinal fended off one game point, but fell 31-29.
The second game was competitive as well, with nine ties. Long Beach pushed ahead at 17-15 and did not did not let Stanford within two points again. The 49ers held their slim lead down the stretch, winning 30-27.
Long Beach put the Cardinal in a hole early in the third game and Stanford could not get back in the game. The 49ers reeled off five straight to lead 7-2 and, though Stanford did get within two as late as 18-16, Long Beach held on for the 30-25 victory and the sweep.
Shoji posted a match-high 17 kills, while Romero chipped in 12 and Ceran had eight. Shoji and Ceran also tallied a solo block apiece, but the Cardinal managed only four total blocks to Long Beach’s 13. Lindberg had a match-high 10 digs.
After a two-week break, the Cardinal will return to the court for the final three weeks of the MPSF season, visiting No. 9 Cal State-Northridge and No. 4 UC-Santa Barbara, then hosting top-ranked Pepperdine and No. 13 Southern California. Stanford wraps up with a two-game trip to No. 14 Hawaii.
“I think we have six winnable matches,” Kosty said. “We are playing some very tough opponents and four of the six are in tough places to play. But home and away has not been an issue for us. We are a good team, period; and if we can continue to get better and keep building, I think we have a shot in all six.”