Stanford sweeps Long Beach State
Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — Stanford won its record fifth NCAA women's volleyball title yesterday, sweeping previously undefeated Long Beach State 31-29, 30-28, 30-25.
Associated Press
Logan Tom had 25 kills and Ogonna Nnamani added 19 as the third-seeded Cardinal (33-2) dominated the top-seeded 49ers (33-1).
Stanford's Logan Tom, left, stuffed the spike attempt of Long Beach State's Cheryl Weaver during yesterday's final.
"I thought Stanford had a really good game plan, setting the ball outside to their two best players," Long Beach State coach Brian Gimmillaro said.
Tom, selected the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, had a kill to give Stanford a 29-24 lead in the final game and teamed with Sara McGee for a block to finish off the match.
Tom, a 2000 U.S. Olympian, also had 12 digs and recorded 10 kills in the key first game as the Cardinal overcame a 29-27 deficit. Tom had two kills and a block as Stanford scored the game's final four points.
"We didn't know how (Long Beach State) would react if they lost Game 1," Stanford coach John Dunning said. "I think maybe that was motivation to go out and make sure we got that one."
Nnamani provided the perfect complement to Tom, along with setter Robyn Lewis, who finished with 56 assists.
"Robyn was working it on the court," Tom said. "She was giving us a lot of good looks at the block. She makes our job that much easier, especially with Long Beach being such a big, physical team."
Both Nnamani and Lewis, along with teammate Ashley Ivy, were selected to the all-tournament team.
Stanford, making its record ninth championship match appearance, won its first title since 1997 as it equaled the school record for wins.
The 49ers lost the first game of a match for the first time this season. Long Beach State, which swept its opponents 28 times, came into the match having lost just five games all season.
Tayyiba Haneef led the 49ers, who beat Stanford in four games on Sept. 28, with 18 kills. Haneef and teammate Brittany Hochevar also were selected to the all-tournament team.
"We were just getting frustrated with each other," 49ers middle blocker Cheryl Weaver said. "Their plan of attack was to hit over our shorter blocks. We were having trouble adjusting."
