Sept. 19, 2008
Box Score
FULLERTON, Calif. -
The No. 9-ranked California volleyball team got on and off the court in a hurry today, putting together a 3-0 sweep (25-10, 25-11, 25-15) of Central Connecticut State on the first night of the 2008 Crowne Plaza Volleyball Classic. The Golden Bears needed just 55 minutes to get the job done against the Blue Devils, posting a stellar .500 attack percentage with 50 kills (9e, 82att).
Junior outside hitter Hana Cutura led all players with 13 kills in the match (1e, 13att, .667) and tied her career-high with four service aces. Senior outside hitter/middle hitter Morgan Beck also put in an efficient match, getting 10 kills without an error on 12 attacks (.833). Sophomore setter Carli Lloyd had 26 assists in limited action and added two kills while junior defensive specialist/libero Kristen Kathan led all players with 15 digs in the match.
Three straight kills from Cutura closed out the match in Cal's favor. The Bears never trailed in the entire match and were able to hold the Devils to just 14 kills (10e) on 63 attacks, a .063 attack percentage. Cal outscored Central Connecticut State 63.5 to 19.0 in the three sets and walked away with 5.5 total team blocks and eight service aces.
The third set was much like the first for Cal as the Bears needed just 32 attacks to get 17 kills (4e, .406). At one point, four of Cal's freshmen were on the court together, allowing setter Kristin Obermeyer to notch a career-high five assists. The Bears got out to a 20-11 lead before the offense stalled a bit. Obermeyer put up a set that would turn into points for the Bears when freshman outside hitter Tarah Murrey got one of her eight kills (1e, 14att, .500). Cutura led all players in the set, nabbing six kills on nine attacks (1e, .556).
The Bears continued their hot hitting from the field in the second set, getting 16 kills while committing only one error (23att) and putting up a scorching .652 attack percentage. Beck led the way in the second set by notching five kills on six attacks without an error (.833) and ended her night without coming back into the match. Freshman setter/defensive specialist Ashley Roe came into the set with the Bears up 17-11 and got her first career assist by setting up the first of three consecutive Beck kills. With the Devils stuck on 11 points, two consecutive service aces from Cutura gave Cal the 2-0 set lead heading into the third.
The Bears came out of the gates in a flurry and set the tone with a 25-10 win in the first set. Cal attacked at a .481 rate in the opening stanza, notching 17 kills (4e, 27att) and put up three blocks with two service aces, submitting a nearly flawless resume for the opening 1-0 lead. Cutura led all players with six kills, getting one on each of her attacks with an error (1.000). Beck also went error-free, getting five kills on six attacks. Cal held the Blue Devils to a dismal .000 attack percentage allowing just five kills (5e) on 28 attacks.
The Bears conclude tournament play with two matches tomorrow (Sept. 20); first with San Francisco at 10 a.m. and then at 7 p.m. against host Cal State Fullerton at the Titan Gym. Live audio for the Cal vs. Fullerton match will be available via www.fullertontitans.com