LOS ANGELES – As the Cal volleyball team has struggled through a difficult season, senior outside hitter Christina Higgins has repeatedly reminded herself to focus on the memories she will bring with her after she leaves Berkeley.
Friday night in Los Angeles, Higgins and the Bears created a memory she will remember the rest of her life.
Higgins had 22 kills and Cal registered an improbable and emotional 21-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-15, 15-13 victory over No. 21 USC at the Galen Center. It was the Bears' first Pac-12 Conference victory of the season after 14 consecutive losses, and Cal's first road win in 10 years over the Trojans.
“I've been just trying to remind myself that I won't have these moments ever again with any of these girls or coaches,” Higgins said. “There is no point in completely giving up or get down on myself where I can't compete. I kept telling myself to stay positive and we'll eventually get a win.”
For a program that has been to 12 consecutive NCAA Tournaments – including two Final Four berths – and is consistently ranked in the AVCA top 25, the struggles of the 2014 season have been unchartered territory for coaches and players. Cal has been competitive in most of its Pac-12 matches this season but before Friday hadn't been able to find the formula to pull out a win.
But the one thing the Bears have done is kept focusing on the task at hand, and it finally paid off against the Trojans.
“I'm very happy for the team,” Cal coach Rich Feller said. “They've stuck with it and worked hard. They've dealt with the disappointment, and for them to get this kind of victory is very rewarding for them and our program. It's proof that we are a solid, good team.”
Adding to the emotion of the streak-busting win was how the Bears did it. They led almost the entire third set but end up losing to fall behind 2 sets to 1. After Cal rolled to a fourth-set win to tie the match, the Trojans took a 10-6 lead in the fifth and deciding set, pushing Cal to the brink.
But the Bears somehow found an answer, scoring three points in a row to make it 10-9. After a USC timeout, sophomore outside hitter Nikki Gombar unleashed an ace to tie it at 10-10.
At 12-12, Higgins notched back-to-back kills to give the Bears match point. The Trojans called another timeout and cut it to 14-13 on a kill by sophomore Ebony Nwanebu. After a Cal timeout, junior middle blocker Lara Vukasovic put down a kill to end the match and set off a celebration that was part-jubilation, part-relief.
“This win really meant a lot to me,” said Higgins, a native of nearby Inglewood who had never beaten USC in her career. “It was probably one of the best moments since I've been at Cal. It's just pure happiness. There are no other words to describe it.”
Junior middle blocker Lillian Schonewise dominated the match, registering a career-high 21 kills at a .471 percentage. Gombar had career-highs of 13 kills and 20 digs. Sophomore setter Alyssa Jensen had a career-high 66 assists.
“This has really been a true challenge for everyone,” Schonewise said. “The past month was really tough. We now know what we are capable of. We know we have great players at every position. I think tonight shows if we trust each other and bring energy and communication, things will fall in line.”
The Bears also were sparked by their other senior, defensive specialist Marlee Davis. She entered the match to begin the second set and had a season-high 15 digs.
“That was the best defensive game I can ever remember her playing,” Feller said. “She was making all the proper moves. It was outstanding to see.”
Cal was only in position to win the match because of a terrific comeback in the second set. After trailing 19-15, the Bears scored seven consecutive points – six on Gombar's serve – to lead 22-19. USC came back to tie it at 22, but kills from Schonewise and Higgins gave the Bears set point, and Higgins ultimately closed it out with another kill.
Now with the specter of their winless mark in conference play gone, the Bears can take a sense of relief and confidence into their match Sunday at No. 18 UCLA.
“We definitely can't be satisfied now,” Feller said. “We know we can do it now, and we have to prove that again on Sunday.”
