PULLMAN, Wash. – Redshirt sophomore Ashten Smith-Gooden had 11 kills at a .389 hitting percentage but the Cal volleyball team fell to red-hot No. 17 Washington State, 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 at Bohler Gym on Sunday.

Freshman Bailee Huizenga added seven kills and fellow freshman Maddie Haynes had six for the Bears (6-8, 0-4 Pac-12), who played three of their first four conference matches on the road, all against nationally ranked opponents.

The Cougars (14-2, 4-0) came into the match having knocked off three straight top-10 opponents, and the Bears were forced to play without starting middle blocker Jenelle Jordan, who suffered a shoulder injury Saturday during practice. Jordan leads Cal in both hitting percentage and blocks.

The Bears were able to play Washington St. tough through most of each set, but each time the Cougars pulled away at the end. Cal was within 22-19 in the first set before WSU scored two in a row to give itself match point. The Bears were within striking distance at 17-13 in the second set, but the Cougars scored six of the next nine points to take control.

Cal led for more than half of the third set, but after the Cougars took an 18-17 lead, they scored back-to-back points to extend the advantage to three points. Washington St. ultimately made it 24-19 before Cal scored three in a row to make things closer.
Senior libero Maddy Kerr had 12 digs to give her 1,576 for her career. She needs 27 more digs to move into second place on the Bears' all-time list.

Cal returns home Friday for the first of four matches in a row at Haas Pavilion. The Bears host No. 25 Utah at 8 p.m. The match will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.