BERKELEY – Junior libero Maddy Kerr registered a season-high 27 digs to move into ninth place on Cal's single-season list and sophomore outside hitter Antzela Dempi had a career-high 15 kills but the Cal volleyball team fell in five sets to Utah on Thursday, 25-27, 25-21, 28-26, 25-22, 15-10 at Haas Pavilion.

Kerr now has 431 digs this season, which eclipsed the 430 digs she accumulated in 2013. Kerr also had 462 digs last year which is eighth all-time at Cal.

Dempi's offensive production easily bettered her previous career-high of 10, which she set last season at Washington State.

Senior middle blocker Lillian Schonewise had 13 kills and matched her season-high with seven blocks while senior opposite hitter Lara Vukasovic also had 13 kills. Junior setter Alyssa Jensen had 53 assists.

The Utes had set point in the first set at 24-23, but a kill by Vukasovic and a block by Vukasovic and Schonewise put the Bears in front. After Utah tied it back up at 25-25, Schonewise came up with back-to-back kills to close out the set.

The second set was close throughout and Cal (9-19, 3-14 Pac-12) was still within 21-20 before Utah scored four of the next five points to even the match. The Bears took an early lead in the third set only to fall behind 17-14 before a four-point run put them back in front. Cal then trailed 23-21 before scoring three in a row on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Christine Alftin and a kill and block by Schonewise. The Utes had two chances to close out the set, but each time the Bears tied it back up. Then with the score tied 26-26, Utah made consecutive hitting errors to put Cal in front 2 sets to 1.

The Bears got off to a strong start to begin the fourth set, racing out to a 13-8 lead after a kill by Vukasovic. But the Utes scored six of the next seven points to knot it up at 14-14. The remainder of the set went back and forth and was still tied at 22-22 but Utah scored the final three points to force the fifth and deciding set.

Cal trailed just 7-6 in the fifth set but the Utes scored three in a row to take command. After the Bears cut it to 10-8, Utah scored three more in a row and was able to close out the match.

The Bears will play their final home match of 2015 on Saturday against Colorado at 7 p.m. Schonewise, Vukasovic and fellow seniors Nikki Gombar and Mary McKennon will be honored in a pre-match ceremony.