Sept. 9, 2005

MILWAUKEE - Stanford won three straight games and had two players tally double-digit kills to defeat Marquette this evening, 30-17, 30-23 and 30-19 in the Golden Eagles first match of the Colorado Invitational. The Golden Eagles drop to 5-2 while the Cardinal improves to 7-1 on the season.

"We learned a lot this match and its important to remember Stanford is a national champion program," said head coach Pati Rolf. "The players need to understand what is required to be at the highest level, and in game two I think we did that. We are learning and getting stronger physically and more important mentally and technically every match. They (Stanford) helped us understand what is required."

Even with a late run by the Golden Eagles, the Cardinal earned the first victory, 30-17. The two teams played even early, but Stanford pulled ahead and the 10- point deficit was too much for Marquette to relinquish. The Cardinal hit over 33 percent, while the Golden Eagles were held to a meager four percent.

Game two proved to be a much different story but produced the same result with Stanford winning the second game, 30-23. The Golden Eagles kept it close and traded points for much of the game. Kim Todd registered a solo block to tie it up at 18 apiece and Jamie Mueller nailed back-to-back kills to tie it up again at 20. Points were traded again, but Stanford went on a four-point run to lead 26-22 before Marquette tallied what would be its last point of the game. The Cardinal then mounted a seven-point run to seal the game two win, 30-23.

The Golden Eagles improved their attack percentage in game two hitting over 35 percent. Theresa Coughlin led the way slamming down seven kills, while Mueller and Tiffany Helmbrecht each contributed three.

In game three, the Golden Eagles trailed by two points early in the game, but Stanford had series of multipoint runs leaving Marquette unable to catch up. Stanford clinched game three and the match with an 11-point advantage, 30-19. The Cardinal hit 40- percent with Kristin Richards and Foluke Akinradewo leading the cause recording six kills each.

Coughlin led the attack for the Golden Eagles with her seventh consecutive game registering double-digit kills with 15. Stanford's Richards and Akinradewo combined for 17 kills as the Cardinal hit over 40 percent tonight en route to the victory.

Marquette will resume play in the Colorado Invitational tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. MT against host Colorado.

Marquette Golden Eagles Women's Volleyball

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