Gray, a six-time All-American in volleyball and javelin, helps Cardinal capture back-to-back national crowns for first time since 1996-97 to increase Division 1 record to nine titles overall with sweep of Wisconsin

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Three was not only the magic number, but also the most memorable one this year for Stanford two-sport star Jenna Gray.

A third consecutive All-America honor in the javelin throw, including first-team recognition for the second straight year at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas.

A third-place javelin finish competing against professional athletes at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

And it all culminated Saturday night as the senior setter celebrated a third women’s volleyball national title in four years for the No. 3 Cardinal following a 25-16, 25-17, 25-20 victory over fourth-seeded Wisconsin (27-7) at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Penn.

Gray, a three-time AVCA first-team All-American, had 39 assists and seven digs to help Stanford (30-4) add to its Division 1 record with a ninth national championship in 17 appearances. Only Washington-St. Louis, which won 10 NCAA Division 3 women’s volleyball national titles from 1989-2009, has more than the Cardinal.

“I feel like I’d say what my mom always says about us when I ask who the favorite child is, and she was like, ‘I don’t have favorites, but I do like a certain one more at different times,’” said Gray, who helped Stanford accumulate a 121-16 record during her career, including 22-1 in the NCAA tournament.

“So I’d say right now, I like this one a lot. But in all seriousness, I think every single national championship has been such a different route, such a different story. So it’s hard to really compare them.”

Stanford captured back-to-back national titles for the first time since 1996-97, in addition to becoming the first Division 1 program to win at least three championships in a four-year span twice. Penn State, second with seven titles, remains the only school to win four in a row from 2007-10.

It marked the first time Stanford swept its opponent in a final since 2004 and the fourth time overall. Wisconsin was swept for the first time in three finals appearances, including 2000 and 2013, and remained winless in the championship match.

The Cardinal prevailed in five sets last year against Nebraska and won in four sets in 2016 against Texas. Wisconsin was the eighth different opponent Stanford defeated to capture a national title, with UCLA the only repeat challenger in 1992 and 1994.

“I think that this year especially, it felt different. And it felt very experienced. And I think we, from the very beginning until the very end, were just so composed,” Gray said. “And I think that was the biggest reason why we got the sweep (Saturday). So lots of experience, lots of composure. I think everyone held it together so well.”

Gray, an all-tournament selection, completed her final season with 1,395 assists, 242 digs, 112 kills, 92 blocks and 28 aces in 120 sets. She concluded her career with 5,486 assists, which ranks second in program history.

“It’s nice now, I think, since we’re done, to go back and look at that, but we haven’t thought a whole lot about that. We’re just kind of playing with our friends,” Gray said. “And I think it’s a lot easier when you do that and you make it just about, like we said, ‘It’s just a game of volleyball, and it’s who can play one match of volleyball really, really well, and I think we did that (Saturday).’”

Having already won NCAA Division 1 titles in the fall in men’s water polo and women’s soccer, Stanford extended its streak to 44 consecutive years with at least one national championship. The women’s volleyball crown is the 126th NCAA championship in school history and 152nd national title overall.

“Obviously it feels incredible. I feel it’s a whirlwind of emotions. We took a different path than I was expecting,” Gray said. “The season didn't go really how I expected it to go at all, but I think the ending is all that matters. So perfect ending for us.”