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Jonathan Bates | Associate Editor
Stanford will play 12 home matches in 2020, four of which will be at Burnham Pavilion, including both matches versus Lewis. The reigning MIVA regular season and tournament championships will visit Stanford on March 6 and 7, the weekend before their Spring Break.
The Cardinal hold a 4-3 series edge over the Flyers, having won three of the four matches on the Farm. Only one match in this series has been played in Romeoville, while the other two matches were neutral site matches. The last meeting between the two schools was in 2015 where Lewis defeated Stanford in three games.
Lewis ended the 2019 season with a 26-6 (13-1 MIVA) record. They won 18 of the final 19 matches before losing to Hawai’i in the NCAA tournament semifinals. 11 of those 18 wins came via sweep.
Lewis will lean on their returning middle blockers to lead way in 2020 – TJ Murray (All-MIVA Second Team) and Tyler Mitchem (All-American Second Team). Murray and Mitchem paved the way for the Flyers to rank No. 4 in the nation with 2.55 blocks per game. Mitchem also led the nation with a .504 attack percentage.
Also joining Murray and Mitchem as returning starters for Dan Friend (MIVA co-coach of the year) is outside attack Ryan Coenen. Coenen, also an All-American Second Teamer, led the team with 3.25 kills per game.
Stanford ranked in the top 10 nationally last year with 12.22 assists per game, 12.83 kills per game, and a .318 attack percentage.
Two holes that Stanford will have to fill due to graduation are at libero and outside attacker. Libero Kyle Dagostino (All-American Honorable Mention) led the team with 2.08 digs per game, while Jordan Ewert (All-American Honorable Mention) led the team with a .313 attack percentage.
Highlighting the returning starters for Coach John Kosty are All-American Honorable Mention setter Paul Bischoff and opposite Jaylen Jasper. Bischoff ranked No. 6 in the nation with 10.32 assists per game, while Jasper led with the team in aces and kills. Also returning for the Cardinal is middle attacker Kyler Presho who was a member of the All-MPSF Second Team last year.
Stanford will play four teams that made last year’s NCAA tournament – two matches versus USC, Stanford, and Hawai’i as well.
The rest of Stanford’s schedule includes 10 away matches and one neutral site match. Two of those away matches and the neutral site match will take place on the second weekend of January, when the Cardinal first go to Loretto to play Saint Francis, and then play NJIT and George Mason in Fairfax; George Mason will host the 2020 NCAA tournament.
The Cardinal will open up the 2020 slate with home matches versus NAIA member, Menlo, and Division III national runner-up, UC Santa Cruz.
2020 Stanford Men’s Volleyball Schedule
Friday, Jan 3 vs. Menlo
Saturday, Jan 4 vs. UC Santa Cruz
Wednesday, Jan 8 at Saint Francis
Friday, Jan 10 vs. NJIT (Neutral Site)
Saturday, Jan 11 at George Mason
Friday, Jan 17 at UC Irvine
Saturday, Jan 25 vs. UC Santa Barbara
Saturday, Feb 1 at Grand Canyon
Thursday, Feb 6 vs. Pepperdine
Saturday, Feb 8 vs. UCLA
Friday, Feb 14 vs. Hawai’i
Saturday, Feb 15 vs Hawai’i
Thursday, Feb 20 vs. USC
Saturday, Feb 22 vs. Concordia-Irvine
Saturday, Feb 29 at BYU
Friday, March 6 vs. Lewis
Saturday, March 7 vs. Lewis
Friday, March 13 vs. BYU
Thursday, March 26 at Concordia-Irvine
Saturday, March 28 at USC
Saturday, April 4 vs. Grand Canyon
Thursday, April 9 at UCLA
Saturday, April 11 at Pepperdine