Sophomore Sandra Bandimere

With the victory, Stanford improves to 28-4 overall and advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinal will face Pacific tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 7) at 7 p.m. in Maples Pavilion. Pacific eliminated Nevada earlier tonight as the Tigers defeated the Wolf Pack, 3-2. The Cardinal, who entered the 64-team tournament as the No. 2 seed, are seeking their sixth NCAA championship in the last 11 years (1992, 1994, 1996-97, 2001). Sacramento State was eliminated with the loss.

The Hornets conclude the season with a 24-11 overall record as the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the last six years (1997-2000, 20002) despite a starting lineup that consisted of four underclassmen (freshmen Mallory Hook and Shannon Arts, and sophomores Sandra Bandimere and Emily Wilson). The Hornets advanced to the tournament by defeating Eastern Washington in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship match on Nov. 23.

Stanford is now 14-1 at home this season and has dropped just eight games (including a 3-2 loss to top-ranked USC) the entire year in Maples Pavilion. Stanford led Sacramento State in virtually every statistical category including kills (50-31), hitting percentage (.370-.052), digs (54-40), blocks (10.0-1.0) and service aces (9-2).

Besides Tom, Sara McGee (11 kills) and Ogonna Nnamani (10 kills) also recorded double figures in kills for Stanford. Sacramento State was led by Bandimere’s nine kills while senior Jayme Wright finished with six kills and a team-high 14 digs.

In the first game, Stanford used a 10-2 run midway through the frame to take a commanding 22-13 lead. Sacramento State would get no closer than within six points (28-22) of the Cardinal lead the rest of the way. Sacramento State hit well (.316), but Stanford dominated the frame with a .415 hitting percentage, including 21 kills and just four hitting errors. Tom led the Cardinal with five kills while Bandimere had five kills and a .400 hitting percentage (5-1-10) for the Hornets.

After the Hornets jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the second game, Stanford responded with a 25-1 run take a commanding 26-5 lead. At one point during the game, the Cardinal ripped off 19-straight points as Lindsey Yamasaki served 18-straight points (including three service aces). The run marked the longest scoring drought the Hornets have suffered in a game all season. Sacramento State hit just -.244 during the frame as the team had 15 errors to just five kills. Tom led everyone in the frame with seven kills while no Hornet had more than two kills.

Stanford led from start to finish in game three as the Cardinal hit .342 to the Hornets’ .108 hitting percentage.

The Hornets will return all but one starter (Wright) next season including three all-conference players (Bandimere, Kazmiera Imrie and Lisa Beauchene). In addition, with 24 wins this year, the Hornets recorded their most victories since the 1998 squad posted 26 victories. The Hornets will seek their seventh-consecutive Big Sky championship next season as the team has won the five regular-season conference championships (1997-2001) and four conference tournament championships (1997-98, 2000, 2002) since joining the Big Sky in 1996.