Oct. 19, 1999

Box Score

SAN JOSE, CA - The University of California women's volleyball team (8-10) broke a four-match losing streak and upended San Jose State, 3-0 (15-8, 15-12, 15-13) Tuesday evening at the Event Center on the San Jose State campus. The Spartans, who had won 14 matches in a row, lost only their second match of the 1999 season and fell to 18-2. Cal won its eighth match of the season, which surpasses the Bears seven wins of 1998 (7-22).

The Bears were led by junior outside hitter Alicia Perry, who paced Cal with 22 kills and only six errors in 47 attempts for a .340 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Brook Coulter and senior middle blocker Kellie Alva also played well, with Coulter tallying 13 kills and a team-high 20 digs, and Alva adding 11 kills with three errors in 19 attempts for a .421 hitting percentage. The Bears finished the match with a .286 team hitting percentage and had 24 block assists and 12 team blocks.

"I think the key to our success tonight was that we served and blocked very, very well," said Cal coach Rich Feller. "We weren't as sharp offensively, but we went back to what was successful for us early in the match. For us to end a losing streak and break their (San Jose State) winning streak feels really good."

Cal was solid in game one, breaking a 6-6 tie by going on a 6-0 run to take a 12-6 led by two service aces from Perry and two block assists from freshmen Leah Young and Courtney Guerra. The Bears then held off the Spartans and was able to seal the match with a service ace by sophomore setter/outside hitter Candace McNamee. Alva led the Bears with seven kills in the first game and Cal had a .279 team hitting percentage.

The Bears jumped out ahead in game two, 7-1, but let up and allowed San Jose State to pull ahead 10-9. However, Cal was able to regroup to pull out the 15-12 win. Key plays for the Bears included a service ace by Coulter and block assists by Alva and McNamee for the last two points of the game.

Game three went back and forth. Cal fell behind early, 8-2, but was able to tie the game, 8-8. San Jose State then jumped ahead, 11-8, before the Bears started up again and were able to outscore the Spartans 7-2 to win the game and match, 15-13.

Cal will next travel to No. 7 ranked Stanford, Friday, Oct. 22 at Maples Pavilion on the Stanford campus.