Oct. 4, 2008
Box Score
PULLMAN, Wash. - The No. 8-ranked California volleyball team (14-1, 4-0 Pac-10) tied the second longest winning streak in school history by winning its ninth consecutive match tonight at Bohler Gym in Pullman, Wash. over Washington State (7-8, 0-4 Pac-10). The Golden Bears needed every point they could get in the third set but still managed to win their 23rd straight set without a loss, coming away with a 25-14, 25-21, 26-24 victory in the Palouse. Cal attacked at a phenomenal rate, getting 51 kills against the Cougars on 103 attacks (18e, .320). The Bear defense held fast in each set to hold Washington State to just 26 kills, forcing 21 errors on 96 attacks (.052).
Junior All-America outside hitter Hana Cutura led all players with 15 kills (3e, 32att, .375) and added six digs to her final stat line. Senior outside Am'ra Solomon had 10 kills (4e, 19att, .316) and made a rare appearance to notch three digs from the back row, serving twice. Junior defensive specialist/libero Kristen Kathan had a match-high 12 digs and sophomore setter Carli Lloyd continued her steady play, getting 43 assists on the Bears' 51 kills. The Cougars shared the attack as four players each had five kills or more, led by sophomore middle blocker Brittany Tillman, who had six (3e, 15att, .200).
The Bears jumped out to as much as a five-point lead in the third at 10-5, but the scrappy Cougar offense wouldn't be denied, fighting to stay close up until they put a big block on freshman outside hitter Tarah Murrey to tie the score at 22-all. Cutura turned the other cheek and dropped a shot into the center of the Washington State court to put the Bears up by one once more at 23-22. Two consecutive Cal errors gave the Cougars just their second lead of the set since being up 2-1 at 24-23 and an all-important set point. The Bears regrouped right away as Solomon put a shot to the back left hand corner to tie the match one last time at 24-all. A Washington State attack error gave Cal a set point of its own when Kathan dug up an attack that sailed towards the Cougar student section. The students serendipitously parted the way for Murrey to pop the ball back into the center of the court for junior middle hitter Mindi Wiley, who played the free ball over the net. Washington State mounted one last attempt but junior outside hitter Jackie Albright sent her attack long of the baseline to close out the match.
Cal kept the clamps on the Cougar offense in the second set, holding Washington State to just 10 kills on 35 attacks (8e, .057). After being down 10-5, the Cougar rally forced an 11-all tie on a broken play during which a Cutura shot was put up off the head of Washington State junior libero Kelly Hyder. The ball went across the court and the Cougars played a free ball over the net. After a continued attack from the Bears resulted in an overplayed ball, Washington State earned the kill.
A long attack by Murrey gave Washington State its largest lead of the second set and of the match at 15-12. Senior outside hitter/middle hitter Morgan Beck served four straight points to get the Bears back to a 16-all tie when Murrey got a kill from the left hand side of the court. The score remained tied through the next three points before Cutura put another attack off Hyder to put the Bears up for good at 19-18. The Bears racked up a couple of blocks before Cutura put down two more kills to give Cal the 24-20 lead and set point. Cutura's seventh kill of the night ended the second set in Cal's favor, 25-21 heading into the break. The Bears earned 17 kills in the set (5e) on 34 attacks to attack at a .353 rate.
The Bears opened up the night clicking on all cylinders, led by Wiley's four kills in five attacks (1e, .600). She finished with eight kills (3e, 13att, .385). Cal registered a .367 attack percentage in the first set, notching 14 kills with just three errors on 30 attacks. The Bear defense also clocked in with a strong first-set effort, holding the Cougars to just nine kills and eight attack errors on 33 attempts (.030). Cal never trailed in the set after being tied at one with Washington State. The Cougars stayed close and were within a single point at 9-8 when a Wiley attack went long but Washington State attack errors stretched a 13-9 Cal lead into a 20-12 advantage which the Bears seized for the 25-14 win.
Cal returns home to host the Arizona's next weekend, first entertaining Arizona State on Friday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. and then No. 25 Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 11, also at 7 p.m. The matchup against the Sun Devils will be broadcast live on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area and is Dig For the Cure night at Haas Pavilion. The Bears will help promote Breast Cancer Awareness by donning pink accessories, using a pink game ball and by tossing special pink mini-balls into the stands. Fans wearing pink will receive $3 admission to the match and have a chance to get involved by donating to the Alta Bates Summit--Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center fund. The match against the Wildcats is Youth Day. All youth up to the 12th grade will receive free admission. The Bears will also host a post-match autograph session in the Haas Pavilion Club Room. Live streaming video and Gametracker statistics will be available for both matches.
