Bears To Hold #SavStrong Day
 

DEMPI DOMINATES
The performance of senior right side hitter Antzela Dempi is one of the stories of the Pac-12 so far this season. After playing sparingly during her first three seasons - including just three matches last season - Dempi is playing at an All-Pac-12 level so far in 2017. She enters play this week leadingthe Pac-12 in aces (0.52/set) and 10th in hitting percentage (.345). Cal played in three preseason tournaments, and Dempi was named to the All-Tournament Team in each. That included an MVP nod at the Cal Classic at Haas Pavilion. 

A STRONG LINK
Opposite hitter Carmen Annevelink is making the most of her first season as a starter. After seeing action in just 26 sets last season, Annevelink has played in every set this year and is hitting .277 while averaging 2.69 kills per set. She had a career-high 17 kills in a victory over Texas Tech and was especially effective against two ranked opponents last week, hitting .458 and averaging 2.17 kills per set against No. 4 Stanford and No. 16 Utah. Annevelink is also an outstanding student, earning Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention last year as an integrative biology major.

ALL IN FOR ALFTIN
Senior outside hitter Christine Alftin has been a rock for the Bears so far this season. One of Cal's primary passers, Alftin also averages 2.21 kills and 2.42 digs per set while ranking second on the team in aces (0.27/set). Alftin was named the MVP of the Rice Invitational after averaging 3.00 kills and 2.64 digs per set while hitting .271. Alftin reached double-digits in kills in all three matches and helped close out a hard-fought victory over Louisiana with 10 kills and 15 digs. Alftin was also named to the Molten Classic All-Tournament Team in August.

MIRKOVIC EARNS PAC-12 FRESHMAN HONOR
Cal outside hitter Mima Mirkovic was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week on Sept. 11 for her performance at the Rice Invitational in Houston. Mirkovic was named to the All-Tournament Team after helping the Bears to wins over Incarnate Word, Rice and Louisiana. She demonstrated a terrific all-around game, averaging 3.36 kills and 2.91 digs per set while hitting for an impressive .333 percentage. Mirkovic posted double-digits in kills in all three matches. 

PRESLIE'S BLOCK PARTY
Freshman Preslie Anderson was a force at the net during Cal's five-set loss at Pacific on Sept. 16. Anderson registered 10 blocks - the most by a Cal player since Lara Vukasovic recorded the same amount in a match against Oregon in 2013. Anderson, the No. 43 "Senior Ace" in PrepVolleyball.com's national high school rankings, also had six kills against the Tigers.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE
• Took No. 7 Washington to five sets last weekend
• SR Oluoma Okaro ranks second in the Pac-12 at 4.70 kills per set
• L Halle Harker leads the Pac-12 with 5.48 digs per set
• LAST MEETING: ASU d. Cal 3-0 (11-19-16)    

ABOUT ARIZONA
• JR Tyler Spriggs leads the team at 3.06 kills per set
• SR Kimberly Gutierrez is 10th in the Pac-12 in both aces (0.30/set ) and digs (3.15/set)
• SO Julia Patterson ranks sixth in the Pac-12 with 10.66 assists per set
• LAST MEETING: Arizona d. Cal 3-1 (11-18-16)