Men’s volleyball defeats Ball State, secures first win of the season
Stanford sophomore outside hitter Nate Clinton logged the match-winning kill in the final moments of the third set, securing a victory for the No. 13 Cardinal over No. 5 Ball State on Saturday night.
The match at Burnham Pavillion marked Stanford’s first win of the regular season and came after a 3-0 loss to Ball State the previous evening.
In the first set, Stanford took an early lead. Junior opposite hitter Moses Wagner led the team with four kills in the set, contributing to a team total of 12 kills. Stanford’s blocking proved effective, frequently shutting down Ball State’s attack. The momentum, combined with the energy of the home crowd, helped the Cardinal close out the set 25-19.
Stanford maintained a slight edge early in the second set as Ball State struggled with service errors. Although Ball State managed to even the score late in the set, Stanford stayed composed despite committing some attack errors. In a tightly contested finish, Stanford pulled ahead to claim the set 25-23.
In the third set, Ball State gained an early advantage, but Stanford narrowed the gap with a series of strong serves from junior outside hitter Theo Snoey, including an ace. Both teams battled in a tense back-and-forth, with the score extending well beyond regulation. Ultimately, Stanford secured the 30-28 set win and the match.
The Cardinal secured the redemption win despite recording just three blocks compared to Ball State’s nine. Stanford, however, tallied five aces to Ball State’s four. Clinton delivered in the clutch for Stanford, finishing with eight kills and two blocks.
Up next, Stanford will face Ohio State on Friday in the First Point Collegiate Challenge at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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