The Stanford Men's Club Volleyball team opened its regular season this past weekend, competing in a hard-fought tournament at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. The team finished with a 1-3 record, but every match was tightly contested, with no set lost by more than a couple of points. Despite the results, Stanford left the tournament feeling optimistic, knowing that its best volleyball is still ahead.
The day started early, with players hitting the road at 6 a.m. for the long drive down the California coast. With only a short warm-up before their first match against the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford showed flashes of strong play but ultimately fell 0-2. Each set came down to the wire, but a few key points swung in Berkeley's favor.
In the second match of the day, Stanford faced Fresno State and delivered its most thrilling performance. After dropping the first set, the team regrouped, adjusted, and battled back to take the next two, securing a 2-1 victory. The match showcased the team's resilience and ability to perform under pressure, as it capitalized on key plays down the stretch to close out the win.
Looking to carry that momentum forward, Stanford took on Santa Clara University next. Once again, the team played competitive sets, staying within a couple of points throughout, but Santa Clara managed to edge out a 2-0 victory. The day concluded with a match up against tournament host Cal Poly, where Stanford put up another strong fight but fell 0-2 in another closely contested match.
Throughout the tournament, several players stepped up to keep Stanford competitive in every match. Skye Hathaway and Michael Hemker made their presence known at the net with vicious solo blocks and powerful kills that helped the team stay in tight sets. Carter Sun took on the challenge of playing both setter and outside hitter, proving his versatility and determination to contribute in any way possible. Dylan Pichay provided steady hands as the primary setter, delivering precise passes to set up clean attacks and help Stanford earn quick points. Defensively, Nolan Mejia and Nick Simpson were rock-solid in serve receive, making crucial digs that allowed the team to smoothly transition into its offensive rhythm.
Despite the losses, the team sees plenty of reasons for optimism. With a roster that hasn't played much together and chemistry still developing, the potential for growth is clear. Adding to the challenge, Stanford was also missing a key piece of its lineup, forcing adjustments in rotations and limiting depth. Even so, the team remained highly competitive in every set, proving that with time, experience, and a full roster, it has the ability to turn close matches into victories.
While the tournament may not have produced the ideal win-loss record, the overall performance showed that Stanford is ready to compete. With lessons learned and confidence growing, the team is eager to refine its game and make a strong push in the upcoming tournaments. Up next, Stanford will have a shot at redemption as it prepares for a rematch against Cal at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 8th.
