Nov. 8, 2007
Box Score
PULLMAN, Wash. - The No. 7 California volleyball team (20-5, 10-4 Pac-10) defeated Washington State (9-18, 0-13) tonight at Bohler Gym in Pullman, Wash., in a three-game sweep of the Cougars (30-16, 30-18, 30-28). With the win, the Golden Bears surpass last season total in conference wins with four matches to go in the regular season.
Junior outside hitter/middle hitter Morgan Beck led the way for the Bears with 10 kills on the night. In only two games of action, the junior from Newport Beach, Calif. added three service aces and three block assists to go along with her .600 hitting percentage (10k, 1e, 15att). Senior outside hitter Angie Pressey also only got plenty of rest, participating in two games and notching nine kills for Cal with no errors on 17 attacks.
Sophomore outside hitter Hana Cutura hit .400 with 11 kills (3e, 20att) while her fellow sophomore outside Cat Dailey came in and put down three service aces in a row during the second game. Senior middle hitter Ellen Orchard came up with 8 kills on 13 attacks (1e, .538) and added a block solo and three block assists. For the match, the Bears had 12 total team blocks and hit .328 (54k, 16e, 116att). The Bears are 18-1 when hitting better than their opponent. Tonight, the Cougars were held to just 28 kills on 104 attacks, registering 24 errors for a .038 hitting percentage.
Cal held Washington State to negative hitting for each of the first two games, rushing out of the gates to a 10-3 lead in game one and eventually building a comfortable 20-12 lead in game two. The Cougars were unable to get within 10 points of the Bears after Cal took a 15-5 lead in the first stanza. The Bears finished off each of the first two games with stout defense, forcing two more errors than kills on the Cougars both times.
Resting many of its starters in game three, the Bears gave up a strong run to the Cougars. The game was tied at 28 before the Bears claimed the final two points on two consecutive Morgan Beck kills. The Bears run their winning streak over Washington State to 10 with the victory and are now only two victories from tying last seasons overall wins mark.
The Bears remain in the Pacific Northwest and pay a visit to No. 4 Washington in a 7 p.m. match tomorrow. Check CalBears.com for updated GameTracker information.
