[johnbar]

Stanford beat Cal Poly 3-2.

UCLA vs. USC (both undefeated this weekend)just getting started (a bit behind schedule).

ETA: UCLA beat USC 3-2.

[johnbar]

Stanford beat Cal Poly 3-2.

UCLA vs. USC (both undefeated this weekend)just getting started (a bit behind schedule).

ETA: UCLA beat USC 3-2.

[johnbar]

Stanford falls to #2 in the poll, but with 10 first-place votes.
UCLA is five points ahead, with 13 first-place points.
USC moves up to #3, one point ahead of Texas.

https://www.avca.org/polls-awards/polls/...eks=week-8

[johnbar]

Stanford falls to #2 in the poll, but with 10 first-place votes.
UCLA is five points ahead, with 13 first-place points.
USC moves up to #3, one point ahead of Texas.

https://www.avca.org/polls-awards/polls/...eks=week-8

[johnbar]

Stanford West Coast Classic
Final duals of the regular season.

Includes #2 Stanford, #6 Cal Poly and #7 Cal, plus unranked San Jose State and Pepperdine.

Friday, April 17

1.  SJSU v. Cal Poly    - 9:00am
   
2. Cal v. Pepperdine   - 11:00am
   
3. Stanford v. CalPoly  - 1:00pm
   
4. SJSU v. Pepperdine  - 3:00pm
   
5. Stanford v. Cal         - 5:00pm
   

Saturday, April 18 (also: Stanford Sports "Cardinalpalooza")

1. Pepperdine v. Cal Poly  -  9:00am
   
2. Cal v. Cal Poly             - 11:00am
   
3. Stanford v. Pepperdine  - 1:00pm
   
4. Cal v. San Jose State     - 3:00pm
   
5. Stanford v. SJSU           - 5:00pm
   

Stanford Senior Day after the last dual.

I hope they are able to keep close to being on time.  I think I may just go for CalPoly on Friday, and then SJSU on Saturday and stay for the Senior Day ceremony.

[johnbar]

Stanford West Coast Classic
Final duals of the regular season.

Includes #2 Stanford, #6 Cal Poly and #7 Cal, plus unranked San Jose State and Pepperdine.

Friday, April 17

1.  SJSU v. Cal Poly    - 9:00am
   
2. Cal v. Pepperdine   - 11:00am
   
3. Stanford v. CalPoly  - 1:00pm
   
4. SJSU v. Pepperdine  - 3:00pm
   
5. Stanford v. Cal         - 5:00pm
   

Saturday, April 18 (also: Stanford Sports "Cardinalpalooza")

1. Pepperdine v. Cal Poly  -  9:00am
   
2. Cal v. Cal Poly             - 11:00am
   
3. Stanford v. Pepperdine  - 1:00pm
   
4. Cal v. San Jose State     - 3:00pm
   
5. Stanford v. SJSU           - 5:00pm
   

Stanford Senior Day after the last dual.

I hope they are able to keep close to being on time.  I think I may just go for CalPoly on Friday, and then SJSU on Saturday and stay for the Senior Day ceremony.

[johnbar]

Avery Jackson is one of eight semi-finalists for AVCA's Player of the Year Award.

ETA:
https://www.avca.org/award/2026-avca-nat...atch-list/

[johnbar]

Avery Jackson is one of eight semi-finalists for AVCA's Player of the Year Award.

ETA:
https://www.avca.org/award/2026-avca-nat...atch-list/

[johnbar]

CalPoly swept SJSU, Cal beat Pepperdine 4-1. All matches were 2-0, so Stanford CalPoly is on time.

[johnbar]

CalPoly swept SJSU, Cal beat Pepperdine 4-1. All matches were 2-0, so Stanford CalPoly is on time.

[paloalto]

Stanford squeaks by Cal Poly 3-2.  Surprisingly Stanford's #1 team got demolished.

[paloalto]

Stanford squeaks by Cal Poly 3-2.  Surprisingly Stanford's #1 team got demolished.

[johnbar]

Stanford squeaks by Cal Poly 3-2.  Surprisingly Stanford's #1 team got demolished.

Yes, I'm not sure what went wrong for Belardi & Jackson today.  Cal Poly's 1s are very good, and the first set was close.  But then Stanford fell behind in the second and things just got worse.  Maybe they were trying too hard.  One of the other spectators also thought Belardi and Jackson were not communicating well. (Also note that Cal Poly's Ella Connor is also a Player of the Year semifinalist.)

On the other hand, Rockwell and Sorra made it look easy, scoring Stanford's first point at the 2s.  But the 4s (I.Clarke and Stowell) fell in three close sets, so after the first round it was tied 1-1.  Then the 1s lost, but the 5s (Fisher & Hoffman) came through to tie it again.  So it all came down to the threes.  Bell and Tusher lost the first set but squeaked out a win in the second.  The third was close, neither side getting ahead by more than two. I believe it was tied at 9, when Stanford won a point on a "hubby/wife" serve.  And then started opening up a lead, finally winning 15-10.

Although it started on time, the dual didn't end until 3:25, so the next one (SJSU v. Pepperdine) started about 40 minutes late, and is still in progress as of 5:45pm.  

So the Stanford v. Cal will be starting more than an hour late.  (I did not stay for it.)

[johnbar]

Stanford squeaks by Cal Poly 3-2.  Surprisingly Stanford's #1 team got demolished.

Yes, I'm not sure what went wrong for Belardi & Jackson today.  Cal Poly's 1s are very good, and the first set was close.  But then Stanford fell behind in the second and things just got worse.  Maybe they were trying too hard.  One of the other spectators also thought Belardi and Jackson were not communicating well. (Also note that Cal Poly's Ella Connor is also a Player of the Year semifinalist.)

On the other hand, Rockwell and Sorra made it look easy, scoring Stanford's first point at the 2s.  But the 4s (I.Clarke and Stowell) fell in three close sets, so after the first round it was tied 1-1.  Then the 1s lost, but the 5s (Fisher & Hoffman) came through to tie it again.  So it all came down to the threes.  Bell and Tusher lost the first set but squeaked out a win in the second.  The third was close, neither side getting ahead by more than two. I believe it was tied at 9, when Stanford won a point on a "hubby/wife" serve.  And then started opening up a lead, finally winning 15-10.

Although it started on time, the dual didn't end until 3:25, so the next one (SJSU v. Pepperdine) started about 40 minutes late, and is still in progress as of 5:45pm.  

So the Stanford v. Cal will be starting more than an hour late.  (I did not stay for it.)

[paloalto]

How many times is this Stanford team going to rely on the clutch play of Bell/Tusher.  Tied at 2-2.  Match comes down to the #3 teams again.  Bell/Tusher win the third set 15-13 against Cal.

[paloalto]

How many times is this Stanford team going to rely on the clutch play of Bell/Tusher.  Tied at 2-2.  Match comes down to the #3 teams again.  Bell/Tusher win the third set 15-13 against Cal.

[johnbar]

Wow, the Stanford v. Cal dual was even closer.  Stanford won the 4s and 5s, Cal the 1s and 2s (bad day for Belardi and Jackson).

The 3s lost the first set 21-19 and won the second 21-18.  So it again came down to a third set for the threes.  It was back and forth early, with Bell & Tusher down 5-6, but then pulling ahead 9-6.  I believe they held the lead from that point on.  (I was just following on live stats; forgot it was on B1G+.)  Cal got close, though still down 11-10.  Then it was 12-10, and 13-10; then 14-12, 14-13.  Stanford managed to convert its first set/match/dual point and win 15-13.

Whew.

Hope things are easier tomorrow.  I assume some of the starters will be rested, and more of the seniors will play.

[johnbar]

Wow, the Stanford v. Cal dual was even closer.  Stanford won the 4s and 5s, Cal the 1s and 2s (bad day for Belardi and Jackson).

The 3s lost the first set 21-19 and won the second 21-18.  So it again came down to a third set for the threes.  It was back and forth early, with Bell & Tusher down 5-6, but then pulling ahead 9-6.  I believe they held the lead from that point on.  (I was just following on live stats; forgot it was on B1G+.)  Cal got close, though still down 11-10.  Then it was 12-10, and 13-10; then 14-12, 14-13.  Stanford managed to convert its first set/match/dual point and win 15-13.

Whew.

Hope things are easier tomorrow.  I assume some of the starters will be rested, and more of the seniors will play.

[johnbar]

Stanford swept Pepperdine, did not lose a set:
https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=652027

Belardi & Jackson struggled some in the second set again, but tied it at 19.  Then Avery Jackson served up two big aces, one to the left back and then the right back; the Waves could not handle them.  That was dual point; the 3s and 5s finished shortly after.

[johnbar]

Stanford swept Pepperdine, did not lose a set:
https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=652027

Belardi & Jackson struggled some in the second set again, but tied it at 19.  Then Avery Jackson served up two big aces, one to the left back and then the right back; the Waves could not handle them.  That was dual point; the 3s and 5s finished shortly after.

[johnbar]

Stanford also swept SJSU without losing a set.  There were some very close sets, and some complete blow-outs.  Sometimes in the same match.

E.g., Elena Fisher and Chloe Hoffman playing up at the 4s won their first set 21-19 and their second 21-5.
And, no, I didn't see any indication of injury or the like on Spartan side.  Somehow everything went wrong for them.

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=652028

Seeding for the MPSF tournament will be announced Sunday, and the tournament will be held Tuesday through Thursday (corrected) Wednesday through Friday:
https://mpsports.org/news/2026/4/16/beac...beach.aspx
https://mpsports.org/tournaments/?id=68

[johnbar]

Stanford also swept SJSU without losing a set.  There were some very close sets, and some complete blow-outs.  Sometimes in the same match.

E.g., Elena Fisher and Chloe Hoffman playing up at the 4s won their first set 21-19 and their second 21-5.
And, no, I didn't see any indication of injury or the like on Spartan side.  Somehow everything went wrong for them.

https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=652028

Seeding for the MPSF tournament will be announced Sunday, and the tournament will be held Tuesday through Thursday (corrected) Wednesday through Friday:
https://mpsports.org/news/2026/4/16/beac...beach.aspx
https://mpsports.org/tournaments/?id=68

[paloalto]

Tournament will be held Wednesday through Friday.  #1 and #2 seeds get a bye Wednesday morning and play in the afternoon on Wednesday.   Stanford should be the #2 seed.  I'm planning to attend at least one of the days.

[paloalto]

Tournament will be held Wednesday through Friday.  #1 and #2 seeds get a bye Wednesday morning and play in the afternoon on Wednesday.   Stanford should be the #2 seed.  I'm planning to attend at least one of the days.

[johnbar]

Tournament will be held Wednesday through Friday.  #1 and #2 seeds get a bye Wednesday morning and play in the afternoon on Wednesday.   Stanford should be the #2 seed.  I'm planning to attend at least one of the days.

I corrected my post.  I expect you are right about Stanford being #2, but they could be #1.  They have fewer losses and a better percentage than UCLA.  MPSF posted the standings:  https://mpsports.org/documents/2026/4/18...df?id=6292

[johnbar]

Tournament will be held Wednesday through Friday.  #1 and #2 seeds get a bye Wednesday morning and play in the afternoon on Wednesday.   Stanford should be the #2 seed.  I'm planning to attend at least one of the days.

I corrected my post.  I expect you are right about Stanford being #2, but they could be #1.  They have fewer losses and a better percentage than UCLA.  MPSF posted the standings:  https://mpsports.org/documents/2026/4/18...df?id=6292

[paloalto]

And Stanford is seeded #1.

[paloalto]

And Stanford is seeded #1.

[BobK]

https://mpsports.org/news/2026/4/16/beac...beach.aspx

The schedule

---

https://mpsports.org/news/2026/4/16/beac...beach.aspx

The schedule

[BobK]

https://mpsports.org/news/2026/4/16/beac...beach.aspx

The schedule

---

https://mpsports.org/news/2026/4/16/beac...beach.aspx

The schedule

[johnbar]

Stanford beat Washington 3-0, with the 1s, 2s, and 3s winning in two sets.  The 4s won the first and were tied 14-all in the second when the dual ended. The 5s would have gone to a third set; dropped the first set and won the second.

Stanford meets USC at 10:15am tomorrow. The Cardinal are 1-2 against the Trojans this year. A win puts them into the semis; a loss send them to the contenders bracket.

[johnbar]

Stanford beat Washington 3-0, with the 1s, 2s, and 3s winning in two sets.  The 4s won the first and were tied 14-all in the second when the dual ended. The 5s would have gone to a third set; dropped the first set and won the second.

Stanford meets USC at 10:15am tomorrow. The Cardinal are 1-2 against the Trojans this year. A win puts them into the semis; a loss send them to the contenders bracket.

[cardfan77]

Stanford wins against USC 3-2.

[cardfan77]

Stanford wins against USC 3-2.

[johnbar]

Stanford gets by USC 3-2.  The Trojans won on courts 1 and 2, and Stanford took 3, 4, and 5.
The Cardinal had match/dual point at 20-18 on court 5, but served into the net.  Fortunately, they were able to convert the next point.

They play in a semi-final tomorrow morning at 8:00am, on the BTN.

[johnbar]

Stanford gets by USC 3-2.  The Trojans won on courts 1 and 2, and Stanford took 3, 4, and 5.
The Cardinal had match/dual point at 20-18 on court 5, but served into the net.  Fortunately, they were able to convert the next point.

They play in a semi-final tomorrow morning at 8:00am, on the BTN.

[paloalto]

Wow, BTN, not BTN+.  That's great.  I was planning to go to the match tomorrow but I'll watch in the comfort of my house instead since I don't get BTN+.

As I understand it whichever team loses the semi-final match is eliminated; no double elimination at this stage.  Is that correct?

---

Texas beats UCLA.

[paloalto]

Wow, BTN, not BTN+.  That's great.  I was planning to go to the match tomorrow but I'll watch in the comfort of my house instead since I don't get BTN+.

As I understand it whichever team loses the semi-final match is eliminated; no double elimination at this stage.  Is that correct?

---

Texas beats UCLA.

[johnbar]

Correct, if you lose in the semis you are done.

[johnbar]

Correct, if you lose in the semis you are done.