For their final home match of the season, Stanford hosted No. 14-ranked Cal in a thrilling Senior Night showdown. With emotions high and a packed gym behind them, Stanford delivered one of its most hard-fought performances of the year, celebrating the legacy of its graduating seniors in a match filled with grit, passion, and unforgettable moments.
The opening set was a back-and-forth slugfest. Setter Dylan Pichay distributed the offense brilliantly, while Nick Simpson delivered clutch serving runs to keep the Cardinal level. On the pins, Michael Hemker and Jeffery Kwan rained down powerful kills, while both teams battled defensively, refusing to let balls hit the floor. Cal, however, edged out the set 25-23 after a well-timed block gave them the narrow advantage.
Set two brought even more drama. With both sides trading kills and blocks, the energy in the gym never dipped. After Cal pulled ahead late 23-22, Stanford regrouped during a timeout. On the very next play, a perfect pass from libero Nolan Mejia allowed Pichay to run the middle, setting up Alejandro d'Arbeloff for a thunderous kill to tie things up. Cal responded with a block, but Michael Hemker answered immediately with a clutch kill. Skye Hathaway followed that with a huge block to give Stanford the lead.
What followed was one of the longest, most intense rallies of the season. Hemker and Yannik Schueler brought the heat from the wings, while Mejia and Kwan kept the point alive with jaw-dropping digs. After multiple exchanges, Cal managed to break through with a block that clinched the set 28-26 in dramatic fashion.
Despite being down two sets, Stanford showed no signs of backing down. The third set followed the same competitive rhythm, with both teams staying within a few points of each other. Pichay continued to run a dynamic offense, and Stanford's energy never faltered. In the end, Cal pulled away just enough to take the final set 25-22.
Though the result didn't swing in Stanford's favor, the team's performance was nothing short of inspiring. Each player brought heart and hustle to the floor, and the seniors were celebrated with the recognition they deserve: Carter Sun, Nick Simpson, Yannik Schueler, Skye Hathaway, Amin Sajjadian, Dylan Pichay, and Nolan Mejia — all of whom left everything out on the court.
It was a fitting sendoff for a group of players who've given so much to the program.
