Volleyball Summer Preview - Stanford
Thursday, July 2, 2009 | Volleyball
By: Sean Cartell
UF Communications
Editor's Note: Over the next 15 days, GatorZone.com will preview each of the team's upcoming matches on the 2009 schedule in chronological order. Today's feature is Stanford, whom the Gators lost to in the NCAA regional semifinal last season.
MATCH INFO
· Florida vs. Stanford (31st Annual Community Bankers Classic)
· Friday, September 4, 2009 – 8 p.m. EST
· Alex G. Spanos Center – Stockton, Calif.
· Series Info – Stanford leads 3-2
· Last Meeting: Stanford def. UF, 3-0 (N) – December 12, 2008
STANFORD QUICK FACTS
Location: Palo Alto, Calif.
Colors: Cardinal and White
Nickname: Cardinal
Conference: Pacific-10
Head Coach: John Dunning
Record at Stanford: 239-37/8 Years
Career Record: 676-139/24 Years
2008 Record: 31-4
2008 Conference Record/Finish: 17-1/1st
Starters Returning/Lost: 3/4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/4
Newcomers: 4
THE SCOOP
Florida will get an early test in the 2009 season, playing 2008 NCAA runner-up Stanford on the opening day of the 31st-Annual Community Bankers Classic in Stockton, Calif. The contest is a re-match of Florida's 2008 season-ending NCAA Regional Semifinal match. Match time is set for 8 p.m. EST on Friday, Sept. 4 in the Alex G. Spanos Center.
The Gators will feature a much more veteran lineup in 2009, as nearly all of their players return from a year ago with a season of experience under their belts. The match-up again will be on a neutral court, as the two teams will square off in the regular season for the first time since 2003, a match that the NCAA runner-up Florida squad easily won on Stanford's home court. The Cardinal lost four starters from their explosive 2008 squad, including three-time AVCA First-Team All-American outside hitter Cynthia Barboza.
The top returner for Stanford is junior 6-foot-4 outside hitter Alix Klineman. A two-time AVCA All-America selection, Klineman twice has been named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team. She averaged a squad-best 3.61 kills per game last season and recorded a double-double (10K, 10D) against the Gators the last time the two teams met. Other returnees include junior libero Gabi Ailes and junior outside hitter/setter Cassidy Lichtman.
THE MATCH-UP (USING 2008 FINAL STATS)
| Statistical Category | Florida | Adv. | Stanford |
| Kills Per Set | 13.47 | 4 | 14.67 |
| Assists Per Set | 12.51 | 4 | 13.69 |
| Service Aces Per Set | 1.53 | 3 | 0.92 |
| Digs Per Set | 13.26 | 4 | 15.57 |
| Blocks Per Set | 2.25 | 4 | 2.71 |
STANDOUT GATOR PERFORMANCES VS. STANFORD
All from Dec. 12, 2008 match-up in Fort Collins, Colo. – Box Score
- Lauren Bledsoe – 8 kills, .385 hitting percentage
- Kelly Murphy – 6 kills, 15 assists, 6 digs
- Callie Rivers – 6 kills, 8 digs
