Oct. 10, 2005

Stanford, Calif.- The Stanford Men's Volleyball team started fall practice for the 2006 season on September 29th. The Cardinal return eleven players, while welcoming six freshmen to the squad.

The team starts play with fall tournament action October 14-16 at the Husky Dino Cup in Calgary, Canada. The Cardinal then plays host to California in an exhibition match on November 17, the Thursday preceding the Big Game. The traditional season campaign starts on January 4, as Stanford hosts UC Santa Cruz. Stanford will play eleven home matches in 2006, while traveling to two tournaments, including the Elephant Bar Tournament in Santa Barbara, CA and the Volleyball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, MA. Conference play begins in Malibu, CA against MPSF foe Pepperdine on January 13.

Four California natives, a resident of Illinois, and an Italian player make up the freshman class of 2009.

Three setters are in the group, including: John Ekins, 6-foot-4 from Fresno, CA (Bullard High School); Michele Groppi, 6-foot-4 from Modena, Italy (I.T.A.S. Francesco Selmi); and Jarod Keller, a 6-foot-1 setter and libero from Scotts Valley, CA (Bellarmine College Prep).

Two middle blockers join the squad: Cameron Christoffers, 6-foot-6 from Yorba Linda, CA (Esperanza High School), and Brandon Williams, 6-foot-6 from Los Gatos, CA (Bellarmine College Prep).

Brian Fritzsche, a 6-foot-4 opposite player from Kildeer, IL (Adlai E. Stevenson High School), completes the freshman class.