Oct. 9, 1999

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, CA - The University of California women's volleyball team (7-8, 3-4 in the Pac-10) lost to a Top 20 team for the second night in a row, losing to No. 17 ranked USC, 3-0 (15-8, 15-12, 15-10), Saturday evening at North Gym on the USC campus. Cal had lost to No. 9 ranked UCLA, 3-0, Friday night. The Trojans improve to 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the Pac-10.

The Bears were led by 11 kills from junior outside hitter Alicia Perry. Freshman setter Caity Noonan added 10 digs and three service aces for Cal. USC was led by junior outside hitter Janae Henry with a team-high 12 kills.

The Bears started the match off slow, falling behind in game one, 9-1. Cal got back into game one when it made a 5-0 run to get within 13-8 behind a kill by sophomore Candace McNamee and two service aces by senior outside hitter Brook Coulter. Yet, that was as close as the Bears could get, losing 15-8.

The second game was a tighter battle as Cal jumped out to a 7-4 lead on three blocks by senior middle blocker Kellie Alva, a kill by Coulter and a service ace by Noonan. Game two was later tied, 11-11, but the Bears let the contest slip away as two receiving errors gave USC a 13-11 lead. Cal got within 13-12 on a tip by freshman Leah Young, yet again that was as close as the Bears would get, losing 15-12.

Game three was another contest in which Cal had its chances. USC had a 5-2 lead, but the Bears rallied for four straight points behind two service aces from Noonan, a block by Alva and Coulter, and a kill by Coulter to take a 6-5 lead. Cal then let USC get the next three points before going on a 3-0 run to take a 9-8 lead on a couple of blocks by Perry and a service ace by McNamee. Again, the Bears couldn't hold the lead as USC had some blocks and took advantage of some Cal miscues to win the game and the match, 15-10.

"I was disappointed we didn't play as consistently as we could have," said Cal coach Rich Feller. "History is against us when we play the Los Angeles schools. We are just going to go back to work in the gym and improve. I was impressed with the gutsy serving by Caity Noonan."

Cal will next host Arizona State, Friday, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. in the first-ever athletic event at the new Haas Pavilion (the renovated Harmon Gym) on the Cal campus. The Bears will then host Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at Haas Pavilion.