Sept. 25, 1999
Box Score
STANFORD, CA - The University of California women's volleyball team (4-6) fell to the Utah Utes (9-4), 3-1 (16-18, 15-8, 16-14, 15-12), Saturday evening in the Pacific-10-Mountain West Women's Volleyball Challenge at Maples Pavilion on the Stanford campus.
After winning the first game in a hard-fought 18-16 contest, Cal could not take advantage of opportunities in the next three games and lost the match, 3-1. It was the Bears fourth loss in a row. On a positive note, Cal was led by senior Brook Coulter with 14 kills, seven service aces and 12 digs, and junior Alicia Perry had a team and career high 29 kills. Coulter's seven service aces gives her 12 service aces on the season and 138 for her college career, which sets a new Cal career record for service aces (surpassing 136 by Sienna Curci, 1989, 91-93, Tiffany Rochelle, 1986-89).
In the first game, the Bears came from behind to win 18-16. Utah had a 9-6 lead when an ace by Couter and two kills by Perry tied the game, 9-9. The game then went back and forth with ties at 10-10, 12-12, 14-14, 15-15 and 16-16, and both teams having chances at game point. Finally Cal was able to prevail behind three service aces from Coulter and several key kills by Perry.
Cal started in a hole in the second game, falling behind 5-1 to start the contest and then trailing 9-2. The Bears were only able to mount a small rally to get within 12-8, before losing 15-8.
The Bears had an outstanding chance to capture game three when Utah mishandled a pass to give Cal game point, 14-13. But, the Bears squandered the opportunity and gave up the next three points, losing 16-14.
In the fourth game, Cal again could not put a game away. The Bears went on a 5-0 run to take a 11-5 lead, but the Utes came back and tied the contest 11-11. Cal was only able to score one more point the rest of the game and lost the game and match, 15-12.
"It was a hard-fought, drawn out volleyball match," said Cal head coach Rich Feller. "Anytime you play a match that goes extra points, and is over two hours for four games, you know you were in a battle and you were doing something right."
Cal will try to get back on the winning track when it next host Santa Clara, Tuesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Recreational Sports Facility in Berkeley. The Bears then return to Pac-10 play Friday, Oct. 1 versus Oregon and Saturday, Oct. 2 versus Oregon State at 7 p.m. at Cal's RSF.
