Oct. 11, 2008

BERKELEY - The No. 5-ranked California volleyball team (16-1, 6-0 Pac-10) completed its ninth consecutive 3-0 sweep of an opponent when it put Arizona (12-5, 2-3 Pac-10) away tonight at Haas Pavilion, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20. The Golden Bears set a new school record by winning their 29th consecutive set without a loss. The 11-match winning streak is the second longest in school history and at 16-1, helps the Bears match the best start in school history (2003). Cal junior outside hitter Hana Cutura moved into a ninth-place tie with Jenna Brown (2002-05) on the all-time kills list, reaching the 1,113 mark by putting in 13 kills tonight (4e, 30att, .300).

Freshman outside hitter Tarah Murrey set a new career high with her 11th kill of the night (5e, 21att, .286) and got in on the final point of the match when she and freshman middle hitter Shannon Hawari teamed up for the block assist on Arizona sophomore outside, Tiffany Owens. Hawari filled in with three total blocks on the night and six kills (1e, 9att, .556). Sophomore setter Carli Lloyd poured in a double-double match with 11 digs to go with her match-high 36 assists and junior libero Kristen Kathan led all players with 12 digs. As a team, the Bears posted a .300 attack percentage, putting down 45 kills (15e) on 100 attacks and held Arizona to 30 kills (19e, 92att, .120). Wildcat senior outside hitter Brooke Buringrud led Arizona with nine kills (2e, 22att, .318).

The Bears had to fight off a furious Wildcat come back in the third set after getting out to a 15-10 lead. Buringrud's kill put Arizona within one point at 20-19; but Cutura's 13th kill and a service ace from junior middle hitter Mindi Wiley gave Cal a little breathing room and a 22-19 lead. The Cats scored one more point but two straight kills by Hawari, one on an overplayed ball, gave Cal match point. Hawari and Murrey rose up together to force the final attack of the match to the floor, sealing the match in Cal's favor. The Bears registered a match-best .379 attack percentage in the final set, getting 15 kills on 29 attacks (4e).

In the second set, Cal pulled away from the Cats after being tied up a nine points each. The Bears stretched out to a 15-11 advantage on the backs of three kills and a service ace from Cutura. Another Cutura kill put the Bears ahead, 20-13 in the set. The Bears used a stifling block at the net to force Arizona into several errors and held the Wildcats to 8 kills with five errors on 33 attacks (.091). Cal maintained its lead to grab set-point at 24-17 before surrendering two points to Arizona but a kill shot from Murrey put the set away with Cal up 2-0 heading into the break. Cal attacked at a .297 rate in the second set, putting in 16 kills (5e, 37att).

Cal opened up a five-point advantage on Arizona in the first set when Murrey got up for a solo block of Arizona sophomore setter Paige Weber. Murrey and Hawari teamed up again on the ensuing play to give Cal the 18-12 lead. It was two straight kills from senior outside hitter Am'ra Solomon (8k, 3e, 22att, .227) that helped push the Bears to a seven-point lead at 20-13. Hawari connected with Lloyd on a quick-set play to get the Bears to set-point at 24-18. Murrey put down her third kill of the set to close out scoring at 25-18. Cal had 14 kills (6e, 34att) to attack at a .235 rate in the opening set and held the Wildcats to 10 kills (8e, 33att, .061).

The Bears now have seven days off between matches and prepare to take on rival No. 4 Stanford (15-2, 6-0) in the Big Spike at Stanford, Calif. on Sunday, Oct. 19 at 12:30 p.m. Cal shares the Pac-10 lead with the Cardinal and took Stanford to five sets in the last meeting at Maples Pavilion. The match will be shown live on Fox Sports Net. Please check your local listings for times and availability.