[81alum]

Just checked our records.  The last time Stanford WBB started a season 0-2 was 1997-98.  We have quite frequently dropped one of the first two--Vanderveer often schedules one very tough game at the start of the season.

In 1997 we opened away at Wisconsin and lost 82-90, with 31 turnovers.  Then we went to Purdue and lost 68-78.  That was an ignominious year for other reasons as well.  Despite going 17-1 to win the Pac 10, we lost to the Stanford of the East in the first round of the NCAAs.  That year we had Olympia Scott, Vanessa Nygaard, Kristin Folkl, and Heather Owen among others.  I don't really remember the early part of that season--I imagine that Folkl was not playing yet due to Volleyball, and our guards all seemed very young (Milena Flores and Melody Peterson were sophomores, and I don't recognize the names of the other guards, mostly frosh.) Vanderveer played freshmen for stretches due to foul trouble.  It was the ONLY 0-2 start in Vanderveer's Stanford career.

If we want to get a win out of this trip, it obviously isn't going to come from our offense.  We have to hope that we can play defense tougher than anything Ohio State has seen before.  We have to hope that we can tag team some of our young guards on Kelsey Mitchell.  Stephanie Mavunga, whose brother is married to Jeanette Pohlen, has apparently gotten herself into the best shape of her life.  I imagine we will see Vanderveer bringing a lot of help to frustrate her.

Tara's scouting report defense will probably sell out to stop Mitchell and Mavunga, so the other Ohio State players will have some great opportunities.  Win or lose, we are going to learn who  Coach V thinks our best defenders are. 

[81alum]

Just checked our records.  The last time Stanford WBB started a season 0-2 was 1997-98.  We have quite frequently dropped one of the first two--Vanderveer often schedules one very tough game at the start of the season.

In 1997 we opened away at Wisconsin and lost 82-90, with 31 turnovers.  Then we went to Purdue and lost 68-78.  That was an ignominious year for other reasons as well.  Despite going 17-1 to win the Pac 10, we lost to the Stanford of the East in the first round of the NCAAs.  That year we had Olympia Scott, Vanessa Nygaard, Kristin Folkl, and Heather Owen among others.  I don't really remember the early part of that season--I imagine that Folkl was not playing yet due to Volleyball, and our guards all seemed very young (Milena Flores and Melody Peterson were sophomores, and I don't recognize the names of the other guards, mostly frosh.) Vanderveer played freshmen for stretches due to foul trouble.  It was the ONLY 0-2 start in Vanderveer's Stanford career.

If we want to get a win out of this trip, it obviously isn't going to come from our offense.  We have to hope that we can play defense tougher than anything Ohio State has seen before.  We have to hope that we can tag team some of our young guards on Kelsey Mitchell.  Stephanie Mavunga, whose brother is married to Jeanette Pohlen, has apparently gotten herself into the best shape of her life.  I imagine we will see Vanderveer bringing a lot of help to frustrate her.

Tara's scouting report defense will probably sell out to stop Mitchell and Mavunga, so the other Ohio State players will have some great opportunities.  Win or lose, we are going to learn who  Coach V thinks our best defenders are.