TEMPE, Ariz. – The Cal volleyball team provided a stiff challenge to No. 18 Arizona State on Friday before falling 23-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-21 at Wells Fargo Arena.

Senior outside hitter Christina Higgins led the Bears (8-8, 0-6 Pac-12) with 18 kills and sophomore libero Maddy Kerr registered 21 digs.

Cal raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first set and never trailed, although the Sun Devils (13-4, 3-2) cut a 23-18 deficit to 24-23 before Higgins closed it out with a kill.

The first part of the second set was back and forth. But after the score was tied 9-9, Arizona St. went on an 11-5 run to lead 20-14 and the Sun Devils evened the match.

The pivotal third set was mostly close, as the Bears trailed just 16-14 after a kill by Higgins. But Arizona St. scored four points in a row to take control.

The fourth set was back-and-forth throughout, and a kill by sophomore Nikki Gombar kept the Bears close at 22-20. But the Sun Devils scored the next two points and were able to close out the match.

“We looked like a better team tonight,” Cal coach Rich Feller said. “We just got beat by a better team. They had a couple people we couldn't stop and we had a couple people they couldn't stop. I don't feel we hurt ourselves tonight.”

Junior middle blocker Lillian Schonewise and freshman outside hitter Christine Alftin each added nine kills and two blocks for the Bears while junior middle blocker Jenelle Jordan had six kills and three blocks.

The Bears (8-8, 0-6 Pac-12) will next play at Utah on Friday at 4 p.m. PT. The match will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.