|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Long Beach native Cynthia Barboza didn’t disappoint her hometown fans or the Stanford women’s volleyball team on Saturday night.
Barboza, a junior outside hitter, gave her family, friends and Stanford teammates something to cheer about as she rattled off a team-high 18 kills, notched 10 digs and led the No. 2 Cardinal to a 30-26, 30-19, 30-27 sweep of the No. 19 Long Beach State 49ers in Stanford’s season-opener at the Gold Mine in Long Beach.
Barboza, playing her first collegiate match in her hometown, received a warm welcome from the crowd and didn’t disappoint. Her effort helped Stanford to a .427 team hitting percentage, a mark topped just twice by the Cardinal in 2006.
Stanford junior middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo added 10 kills while senior setter Bryn Kehoe chipped in 45 assists.
Three Stanford newcomers made solid debuts in the win, as national player of the year Alix Klineman and fellow freshman Cassidy Lichtman registered seven and six kills, respectively, while Gabi Ailes notched seven digs.
Stanford (1-0) returns to action Thursday at the Diet Coke Classic in Minneapolis. The Cardinal opens its home season on Sept. 6 against St. Mary’s in the Stanford Invitational.
–Keith Peters
–Keith Peters
–Keith Peters