Oct. 21, 2011
Final Stats
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 2 California volleyball team earned itself a 3-0 victory over Arizona State (25-22, 25-20, 26-24) on Friday evening at Wells Fargo Arena to sweep the 2012 series with the Sun Devils. Both Christina Higgins and Tarah Murrey notched nine kills.
Cal moves to 20-2 overall and 10-2 in the Pac-12 while ASU drops to 5-15 and 1-10 in conference play.
After eight ties and seven lead changes in set one, the Bears pulled ahead for good, taking the set with a 7-1 run at its close. Things were much different in set two, for things were only tied once before the Bears regained control, hitting .296 to ASU's .083.
Set three proved difficult for either team to take command with 17 ties and nine lead changes. A pair of Christina Higgins' kills and a Sun Devil attacking error handed Cal the 26-24 set victory and 3-0 match decision.
"The team had to gut it out a little bit and learn a little bit about themselves," Cal head coach Rich Feller said. "It was all good to see that we can adapt and still win. That being said, we still have some things to figure out."
Returning to her first match since dislocating her ankle against Colorado on Sept. 16 was sophomore Adrienne Gehan.
"That was one of the good things we saw," Feller said on Gehan's return. "Adrienne was able to serve, play some defense and pass. Lillian was also great in going front row in a position she's not used to but still did very well. Erin went at libero and was all."
In terms of percentage, Kat Brown led the attack by hitting .385 (6k, 1e, 13att). Higgins and Murrey posted a team-high nine kills. Robin Rostratter had 14 digs and Murrey had 12 of her own. Elly Barrett put up 34 assists.
Shannon Hawari was instrumental in the Bears out blocking the Sun Devils by a margin of 13-7 for the junior had eight total blocks. Lillian Schonewise tallied four, Barrett had three as did Murrey.
After Cal limited the Sun Devils to .048 and .083 outings in sets one and two, respectively, ASU stormed back to hit .225 in the final set. Set three was the Bears' best collective performance as well, hitting .333.
ASU's Ashley Kastl led both squads with 16 kills (7e, 47att, .191). The Sun Devils posted 62 digs to Cal's 53.
Set One - Cal 25, ASU 22:
The Sun Devils started things off on an 8-1 run, building a 9-3 lead. The Bears then brought themselves back into the match, and were only down by one at 11-10. Kat Brown and Correy Johnson teamed on a block to knot things at 15. Points and leads were exchanged - along with a whole host of ties - before the Bears took control for good. Cal posted six unanswered points, bolstered by a Christina Higgins a kill followed by a Higgins block. With Cal in front 24-22, the Sun Devils served it into the net for set point.
Set Two - Cal 25, ASU 20:
After ASU tied things at 3-3, a kill and ace by Tarah Murrey put the Bears up for the durationThree of Cal's first five points came courtesy Tarah Murrey to build a 5-3 lead. A kill by Kat Brown distanced the Bears by four at 8-4 and then another Brown kill brought things to 10-7. Off a back set from Elly, Kat Brown laced a kill to push the Bears ahead by five at 17-12. Shannon Hawari and Lillian Schonewise stuffed the Sun Devils to bring Cal's lead to 22-15. For set point, it was a block by Hawari and Elly Barrett.
Set Three - Cal 26, ASU 24:
Lillian Schonewise came out firing with two kills and posted a block with Shannon Hawari to earn Cal a 3-2 lead. Kat Brown put up two kills to bring the Bears within one at 10-9. Tarah Murrey tooled it off the ASU block to tie things at 12. Elly Barrett put up a solo block, pushing Cal in front by one at 13-12. After that point, neither team could pull ahead by more than one before things would return to a stalemate. Schonewise and Hawari blocked the Sun Devils to lead 20-19. Higgins laced a kill and then the Sun Devils hit the ball long to push Cal ahead, 25-24. Murrey set Higgins for the final kill of the set and match.
What's Next:
The Bears take on Arizona at 7 p.m. on Saturday night in Tucson.
