BERKELEY – After winning two matches at the Molten Classic on Saturday, Cal libero Maddy Kerr predicted a “gnarly” week of practice.
And she can't wait.
The Bears defeated Nevada and UC Santa Barbara in four sets each Saturday, in the process discovering some depth that should make practices in the near future that much more competitive. That, combined with the team's disappointing loss to Pacific on Friday, could provide some fireworks on the practice floor next week for the Bears.
“We need that,” said Kerr, who was named to the All-Tournament team after averaging 4.82 digs per set, including a season-high 25 against Nevada. “Practice is going to be gnarly this week, which is good. I'm competitive. It's going to be awesome.”
The Bears (7-2) were jolted a bit by their three-set loss to Pacific on Friday, but had only about 12 hours before returning to the floor to play Nevada on Saturday morning. On the strength of Kerr's defense and Christina Higgins' 16 kills, Cal beat the Wolf Pack 25-18, 23-25, 25-17, 25-16.
Higgins had 11 kills and Kerr added 16 more digs while junior Lillian Schonewise registered a career-high nine blocks as the Bears beat the Gauchos to close out the tournament, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16, 25-18. Higgins was also named to the All-Tournament team.
“We have to make sure not to ever disrespect any of our opponents,” Cal coach Rich Feller said. “We have to always take every opponent very seriously. This was a competitive tournament with some very good coaches.”
The Bears mixed things up against UC Santa Barbara, as freshman defensive specialist Gaby deGuzman made her college debut, playing all four sets and recording eight digs. By the end of the match, starting outside hitters Ashten Smith-Gooden and Christine Alftin had been replaced by sophomore Nikki Gombar and freshman Antzela Dempi, and the two combined for 11 kills. Gombar added nine digs.
“I think we showed we have some interchangeable parts,” Feller said. “If somebody isn't at their best, people can come in and maybe take their place, for a short time or a long time. I think that's a healthy place for us. There are going to be people competing for their positions during practice.”
Junior middle blocker Lara Vukasovic added 10 kills, four blocks and five digs against the Gauchos. Sophomore defensive specialist Sabrina Blackwell also made her Cal debut against Nevada and played against UCSB as well.
“The way we played Friday was totally unacceptable. We didn't even compete,” Kerr said. “Tonight, we played with more confidence. It was up to every individual to pull together and rely on each other. The way we played tonight, that should be the expectation.”
The Bears will close out the nonconference portion of their schedule Friday at Saint Mary's before opening Pac-12 Conference play at Stanford on Sept. 23.
MOLTEN CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP: Kat Schulz, Pacific
Anne-Sophie Bauer, Pacific
Katrin Gotterba, Pacific
Christina Higgins, Cal
Maddy Kerr, Cal
Ali Spindt, UC Santa Barbara
Kara Kasser, Nevada
