Nov. 6, 2009
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PULLMAN, Wash. - The No. 13-ranked California volleyball team (14-8, 7-5 Pac-10) earned its 14th consecutive win over the Cougars in a four-set win (25-16, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16) against No. 24 Washington State (16-7, 5-7 Pac-10) at Bohler Gymnasium Friday, Nov. 6. The Golden Bears were led by senior outside hitter Hana Cutura, who posted a match-high 19 kills (8e, 55att, .200) to go with 10 digs for her seventh double-double outing of the season.
Senior middle hitter Mindi Wiley attacked efficiently with 10 kills (1e, 15att) and a .600 mark. Wiley also logged a match-high six blocks and moved ahead of Jenna Brown (2002-05) into 10th at Cal with 299 all-time career blocks. Junior setter Carli Lloyd tallied a career-high nine kills (0e, 12att, .750) to go with 47 assists and eight digs. Sophomore outside hitter Tarah Murrey had 13 kills (4e, 33att, .273) and added seven digs and four blocks. Senior libero Kristen Kathan tied for match-high honors with 15 digs and added a service ace for the Bears. Freshman opposite hitter Correy Johnson had eight kills (3e, 17att, .294) to go with four blocks.
Washington State sophomore outside hitter Megan Ganzer led the Cougars offensively with 14 kills (8e, 35att, .171) while senior outside hitter Jackie Albright put up 13 kills (5e, 44att, .182) with seven digs. The Cougars' junior middle blocker Brittany Tillman posted 11 kills (3e, 17att, .471) and senior middle blocker Cassie Robbins had eight kills (2e, 20att, .300) with a team-high five blocks.
The Cougars attacked at a .203 rate in the match with 54 kills on 143 attacks (25e) but were out-done by a Cal attack that posted 64 kills (17e, 140att) and a .336 attack percentage. The Bears also out-blocked WSU, 13.0-10.0 and posted more digs (53-50) than their opponent for the 14th time this year.
The Cougars took the first point of the fourth set but the Bears reached 15 first with a seven-point lead at 15-8 off a service ace by Kathan. The Bears kept the pedal to the metal as they ran up an eight-point lead at 20-12 off a Murrey kill down the left line. Cutura earned a kill on a cross-court shot to give Cal set point at 24-15 before she took a high ball from Lloyd to seal the victory for the Bears. Cal stood strong with a .419 attack percentage in the fourth set (16k, 3e, 31att) while the Cougars attacked at a .222 rate with 13 kills (5e, 36att).
After facing four ties, Johnson earned a kill on a slide play to put Cal ahead, 5-4. The Bears never looked back after that on their way to a .560 attack percentage in the first set. Cal recorded 17 kills on 25 attacks against just two errors. Cutura topped all players with five kills herself and put the Bears ahead by 11 for the first time with a kill at 23-12. Murrey gave Cal set point with a 24-13 lead as she logged her third kill of the night. The Cougars stuck around and earned three straight points before Wiley slammed a ball to the ground as she and Lloyd connected on a slide play. The Bears held the WSU attack to 11 kills on 30 attacks (7e) for a .133 attack percentage.
The teams traded barbs to open the second set until the Bears went ahead at 5-4 once again. Cal pulled ahead by three points on several occasions but wasn't able to shake the Cougar attack. Robbins earned a kill on a quick set to help Washington State catch the Bears at 14-all. WSU took its first lead as a Murrey attack went wide before the teams traded service errors. Down two points at 19-17, Cutura tooled her shot off the Cougar block and then she blasted a second shot cross-court to tie the match at 19-all. The Bears went ahead by two points themselves at 21-19 as Lloyd earned a kill off a set from freshman middle hitter Kat Brown but two straight kills by WSU knotted the set for the 10th time at 21-all. Lloyd dumped a pass from Murrey for another kill to give Cal its final lead. Cutura gave the Bears set point at 24-22 with a cross-court kill before Murrey sealed the win and a 2-0 lead in the match with her kill. The Bears continued to attack efficiently with 17 kills on 39 attacks (3e) and a .359 attack percentage. The Cougars logged a .250 attack rate with 16 kills (6e, 40att).
Cal returned to the floor with a 1-0 lead in the third set after WSU was charged with a delay penalty but the Cougars fought off the mistake and took its first lead at 4-3 thanks to three straight kills by Albright. The Bears caught WSU at eight-all as Johnson and Wiley teamed up to deny an Albright attack. The teams endured five tied scores until the Cougars went ahead by two points at 14-12 as Tillman blocked a Cutura attack. The Bears fought back once more and knotted the set at 16-all as Johnson earned a solo block against Albright. WSU would not be denied, however, as it took its final lead at 19-18 on a Johnson attack error. The Cougars earned set point at 24-21 as Ganzer got a kill but the Bears fought back to get two points before another Ganzer kill down the line ended the set. The Bears put up 14 kills (8e, 45att, .133) as did the Cougars (7e, 37att, .189) in the third.
The Bears head to Seattle for a 7 p.m. match against No. 4 Washington (20-2, 10-2 Pac-10) Saturday, Nov. 7 at Bank of America Arena. Live stats and video will be available when Cal takes on the Huskies via links at www.gohuskies.com.
