Sept. 28, 2012

Final Stats

TEMPE, Ariz. - Adrienne Gehan and Christina Higgins had eight kills apiece but it wasn't enough in a 25-17, 25-19, 25-14 loss at Arizona State on Friday night.

The loss drops the Bears record to 7-6, 1-2 in Pac-12 Conference play. It marked just the second time since 2002 that the Sun Devils (13-3, 2-1) have beaten the Bears.

The Sun Devils pulled away early in the first set, reeling off four consecutive points to lead 13-7. Cal could never get closer than four points the rest of the way.

The Bears put up more of a fight in the second set. After it was tied at 9-9, Arizona St. reeled off four straight points and it looked as though the Sun Devils might pull away early again. But Cal fought back to tied it at 16-16. The set turned, however, when the Sun Devils then scored the next four in a row and seven of the next eight.

Arizona St. pulled away quickly in the third set. A four-point run made it 10-6 and the Sun Devils gradually extended the advantage to 19-11.

"It's a disappointing loss," Cal coach Rich Feller said. "We need to keep working and keep improving. We have another opportunity to get better Sunday."

Arizona State freshman Macey Gardner, who entered the night leading the Pac-12 and ranked fourth nationally with a 4.84 kills per set average, had 20 kills at a .350 percentage.

The Bears are back in action Sunday at Arizona at 11:30 a.m. The match will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.