Sept. 27, 2007
Box Score
BERKELEY - The No. 10 California Golden Bears volleyball team (10-3, 0-2 Pac-10) fell to the No. 5 UCLA Bruins (13-1, 3-0) in a 3-2 decision (30-28, 30-24, 28-30, 29-31, 9-15) in only the Bears' second five-game match of the season tonight at Haas Pavilion.
In the defeat, senior middle hitter Ellen Orchard set a new school record for total blocks in a game with 13 (one solo). Orchard also put on a strong hitting display registering 14 kills with a .242 hitting percentage (6e, 33att). Sophomore outside hitter Hana Cutura was another bright spot for California, putting down a season-high 24 kills in 54 attempts (6e, .333) and digging up 14 Bruin attacks. In all, five Bears had more than 10 digs each but unforced errors kept Cal from putting the Bruins away.
Unable to hold on to a two-game lead, the Bears allowed the Bruins to put together a come back win that keeps UCLA perfect in Pac-10 play. Coming out of the 10-minute break after the second game, the Bruins went on a tear and opened up the third stanza with a seven-point run that eventually had the Bears staring at a 10-1 deficit. Cal went on a run of its own in the middle of the game to tie the Bruins at 25 but UCLA proved to be too strong and capitalized on Cal mistakes to take game three.
Game four was tied 15 times with four of those ties coming within the final eight points. UCLA took the lead each time but the Bears answered back until the Bruins' Katie Mills put down the last kill of the game to tie the match at two games a piece.
Although the Bears took a quick two-point lead in the fifth and final game, the Bruins stormed back to take an 8-3 lead and finished out the match winning 15-9. UCLA used a balanced attack to stay with the Bears, allowing four players to notch 10 kills or more. The Bruin hitting also improved each game after surrendering a .050 mark in game two.
Cal began the match with strong defense as usual holding UCLA to that .050 hitting in the second game (11k, 9e, 40att) and .131 for the match (66k, 37e, 222att). As hard fought a match as any this season, the Bears put up season highs as a team in total blocks with 23; digs with 99 and attacks with 205.
The Bears will take the court again tomorrow night as they face No. 4 USC in a 7 p.m. match at Haas Pavilion. The match against USC will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet and is also Youth Day. All students 12th grade and under receive free admission.
