No. 2 Stanford sweeps No. 6 Texas in home opener
🧹 Stanford sweeps Texas
Stanford made its fan base happy in the team's home opener, taking down Texas in straight sets (25-16, 25-21, 25-22). The victory is Stanford's fourth ranked win of the season and marks the program's first 7-0 start since 2014.
Battling for leverage in the first two sets, the Cardinal held the upper hand for most of the third set maintaining a seven-point lead on several occasions. The Longhorns made things interesting late, cutting Stanford's lead down to two at 23-21 and 24-22, but Kami Miner put the comeback to rest with her third kill of the contest.
Sami Francis starred for Stanford in the win with seven kills, five blocks and a .429 hitting percentage. Elia Rubin and Jordyn Harvey racked up 12 and 10 kills, respectively, while Miner finished with 35 assists.
📈 CATCH UP: See the final stats here
👀 Stanford in sweep territory
The Longhorn spark is running low in the third set, as Stanford claims two 4-0 scoring runs and leads 18-12.
Texas hasn't been swept since last November.
JORDYN 😱
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB)
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🌲 The Cardinal takes 2-0 lead
A neck-and-neck set featuring five lead changes, Stanford outlasted Texas to take the second set 25-21.
Although Madisen Skinner collected six kills, Texas couldn't overcome Stanford's 5-0 run midway through the set. The Cardinal secured the victory following Sami Francis and Jordyn Harvey's block against Skinner's attack.
Texas trails Stanford in total kills, 28-19.
🔥 Stanford first to 15 in Set 2 battle
After just one tie in the first set, these top 10 teams aren't giving each other any room for error in the second go-around.
The Longhorns and Cardinal have reached five ties and a lead change by the 15-point mark, as Stanford leads 15-14 by the media timeout after going on a 3-0 scoring run. Both teams have a single ace and two blocks in the set so far.
BIG swing from Sami 💪
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB)
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😳 Stanford dominates first set, 25-16
Texas and Stanford were neck-and-neck early, battling to be the first team to 10 points. However, after the Cardinal reached the unspoken goal to give Stanford a 10-7 lead, the home team didn't look back.
Behind a 5-0 scoring run to give the Cardinal a 16-9 lead and five kills each by Sami Francis and Elia Rubin, Stanford coasted to 25. Additionally, Kami Miner picked up a whopping 11 assists.
The Longhorns struggled to find a rhythm, posting a .171 hitting percentage.
Return to sender 🙅♀️
— Stanford Women's Volleyball (@StanfordWVB)
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🔁 Starting rotations
🌲 Cardinal:
- Kami Miner
- Anna Pringle
- Elia Rubin
- Jordyn Harvey
- Elena Oglivie
- Lizzy Andrew
- Sami Francis
🤘 Longhorns:
- Marianna Singletary
- Ella Swindle
- Emma Halter
- Ayden Ames
- Madisen Skinner
- Reagan Rutherford
- Jenna Wenaas
🍿 Stanford-Texas starting soon
A rematch of last year's NCAA regional final, No. 2 Stanford welcomes in No. 6 Texas for its home opener at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, CA. On top of the 2023 postseason matchup, the two faced off during the regular season where the Cardinal swept the Longhorns in Austin, TX.
An opportunity to add another top-10 win to each's resume, Stanford looks to secure its fourth-ranked win of the season and cement its argument as the top team in the country. Texas hopes to not fall to .500 for the first time in years and get back on track.
⚔️ Series History
Sunday’s matchup marks the 36th meeting between Stanford and Texas dating back to 1982. The two split last year’s series, as Stanford won round one during the regular season while the Longhorns beat the Cardinal in the NCAA regional final.
Here are the results from every Stanford-Texas meeting since 2001:
| Date | Season | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/7/01 | 2001 | College Station, TX | Stanford, 3-0 |
| 12/10/04 | 2004 | Green Bay, WI | *Stanford, 3-0 |
| 12/9/06 | 2006 | Austin, TX | *Stanford, 3-1 |
| 8/31/08 | 2008 | Omaha, NE | Stanford, 3-2 |
| 12/18/08 | 2008 | Omaha, NE | **Stanford, 3-2 |
| 9/10/10 | 2010 | Gainesville, FL | Stanford, 3-0 |
| 9/8/13 | 2013 | Austin, TX | Texas, 3-1 |
| 12/17/16 | 2016 | Columbus, OH | **Stanford, 3-1 |
| 12/9/17 | 2017 | Stanford, CA | *Stanford, 3-0 |
| 9/11/18 | 2018 | Stanford, CA | Stanford, 3-0 |
| 9/14/18 | 2018 | Austin, TX | Stanford, 3-1 |
| 9/8/19 | 2019 | Stanford, CA | Stanford, 3-2 |
| 9/5/21 | 2021 | Austin, TX | Texas, 3-0 |
| 9/4/22 | 2022 | Stanford, CA | Texas, 3-0 |
| 9/3/23 | 2023 | Austin, TX | Stanford, 3-0 |
| 12/9/23 | 2023 | Stanford, CA | *Texas, 3-1 |
*NCAA Regionals meeting; **NCAA Championships meeting
2023 NCAA Regional match - Texas, 3-1
Two words defined Stanford and Texas' last matchup: Madisen Skinner. The outside hitter finished with 24 kills in the four-set victory, tied for second-most in her career, and a .383 hitting percentage. The Longhorns out-hit the Cardinal .342 to .278.
Additionally, Texas out-blocked Stanford at the net, winning the battle 12-3. Leading her team to the program's 15th semifinal, Skinner was named Stanford Regional Most Outstanding Player following the victory.
What can't Madisen Skinner do⁉️
— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball)
Skinner had 24 kills and .383 hitting percentage in the intense four set win over (1) Stanford, helping (2) book their ticket to the semis in Tampa! 🤘 x 🎥 ESPNU
👀 How this matchup can shake up each team's trajectories
Stanford's and Texas’ 2024 campaigns have traveled in opposite directions so far.
Although still early in the season, here’s a look at what a win could mean for each team’s future.
Stanford: An argument for No. 1
With a top-five preseason ranking, a big season was expected from the Cardinal. And with an undefeated record and No. 2 ranking currently, Stanford couldn’t have asked for a better start.
More importantly, a win on Sunday would give the Cardinal its fourth ranked win and second against a top-10 opponent — two more than current No. 1 Pittsburgh. Even though both teams have a long road ahead until December, Stanford’s resume unquestionably puts them in the early season title contenders conversation.
Texas: A much-needed momentum booster
After winning back-to-back national championships, the Longhorns were preseason favorites to rise to the top again. Ranked No. 1 in the AVCA preseason top 25 poll, a third title looked even more promising.
However, the Longhorns have losses to then-No. 18 Minnesota and then-unranked Miami. Texas fell to No. 6 in the latest poll rankings.
A win against the Cardinal on the road could shift the tide, signal that the Longhorns are back on track and lead to an unforgettable run similar to 2023.
📝 Match preview
A rematch of last year’s NCAA regional final, Sunday’s contest was a matchup both teams and college volleyball fans circled on their calendars.
Texas has struggled a bit to find its footing so far, while Stanford hasn’t skipped a beat.
2024 resumes
- 🌲 Stanford (6-0)
- 3-0 against ranked opponents: then-No. 18 Minnesota, then-No. 6 Wisconsin and then-No. 24 Marquette (sweep)
- All in four days
- Rank top 10 nationally in kills per set (sixth), assists per set (eighth) and hitting percentage (eighth)
- Undefeated record through six matches is the program's best start to a season since 2014
- Coming off a season-high performance in hitting percentage (.417) and kills (67) against Pepperdine
FRANCIS FOR THE WIN!! 🤩 takes down the Badgers!
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) - 3-0 against ranked opponents: then-No. 18 Minnesota, then-No. 6 Wisconsin and then-No. 24 Marquette (sweep)
- 🤘 Texas (3-2)
- Beat then-No. 3 Wisconsin to start the season at the 2024 Women’s College Volleyball Showcase
- Suffered losses to then-No. 18 Minnesota and Miami (Fla.) in five sets
- Loss to Miami was the program’s first loss to an unranked opponent at home since 2019’s NCAA regional semifinal against Louisville.
- Outside hitter Madisen Skinner has led the team in kills in four out of the team’s five matches, including an SEC season-high with 20 against Miami
- Started the 2023 season, that resulted in the program’s second straight championship, with a 3-2 record
🏐 Power 10 rankings after Week 2
NCAA Digital's Michella Chester dropped her Power 10 rankings after Week 2 with a new No. 1 team for the second straight week. The preseason No. 1 and No. 2 favorites, Texas and Nebraska, also dropped out of the top five. The full Power 10 rankings are below, with Stanford and Texas in bold.
- Pittsburgh - Prev. 3
- Penn State - Prev. 6
- Stanford - Prev. 4
- Louisville - Prev. 2
- Creighton - Prev. NR
- Nebraska - Prev. 1
- Texas - Prev. 5
- Purdue - Prev. 7
- Kentucky - Prev. 10
- Wisconsin - Prev. NR
➡️ Click or tap here for a breakdown of each of Michella's picks
📺 How to watch Texas vs. Stanford
- 🗓️ Date: Sunday, Sept. 15
- ⏰ Time: 3 p.m. ET
- 📺 TV: ESPN
- 📍 Location: Maples Pavilion in Stanford, California
- 📊 Follow along: Live scores and stats