Sept. 12, 2009

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BERKELEY - The No. 13-ranked California volleyball team (5-3) sent San Jose State (0-8) to its eighth consecutive loss to start the season with a 3-1 victory (25-13, 22-25, 25-15, 25-14) today (Sept. 12) in the final match of the 2009 Molten/Hilton Garden Inn Classic at Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears were led by senior outside hitter Hana Cutura's second double-double of the season as she posted 17 kills (4e, 42att, .310) with 10 digs and two blocks.

The Bears attacked at a .231 rate in the match and recorded 48 kills (21e, 117att). Junior setter Carli Lloyd had another outstanding match as she logged a match-high 29 assists to go with her seven kills (0e, 12att, .583) and eight digs. Freshman middle hitter Tia Gaffen put up efficient numbers as well as she posted six kills (1e) on 12 attacks for a .417 attack percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Tarah Murrey had eight kills (5e, 20att, .150) and added seven digs for the Bears. Senior libero Kristen Kathan led all players with 15 digs on the night.

The Spartans had two players with eight kills each; freshman outside hitter Taylor Japhet (6e, 34att, .059) and junior outside hitter Courtney Zellmer (6e, 19att, .105). San Jose State senior libero Kristal Tsukano led her team with 10 digs but posted a negative .192 attack percentage against the Cal block (4k, 9e, 26). As a team, the Spartans were held to 32 kills with 32 errors on 133 attacks for a .000 attack rate.

The Bears scored the final five points of the match to close out the fourth set, 25-14. Cal got two kills from Cutura and one by Gaffen during that run to seal the deal. With the score tied at nine, The Bears ripped off four quick points to pull out to a 13-9 lead thanks to four Spartan errors. San Jose State calmed down just a little bit to climb back into the set at 13-11 but Cal took off on a 7-1 run capped off with a kill by Lloyd to create a 20-12 advantage. The Bears posted 11 kills in the fourth set (5e, 26att) to log a .231 attack rate and held the Spartans to a paltry negative .185 rate (5k, 10e, 27att).

Cal never trailed in the opening set and pulled out to a 23-11 lead on two straight kills by Cutura. Cutura connected with a set from freshman defensive specialist Robin Rostratter to end the set, 25-13. The Bears had 11 kills in the first set (6e, 27att, .185) and the Spartans had four kills (9e, 30att, -.167). Cutura had five of her 17 kills in the first set and logged a team-best six digs in that set alone.

The Bears and Spartans stayed neck and neck through 13 ties during the second set before San Jose State went ahead 23-21 on a kill. Cal claimed one more point on a Spartan error but were turned away for good when two San Jose State blockers went up to reject an attack from Cutura. The Spartans claimed a 25-22 victory in the second set on the hot hands of Japhet and Zellmer who combined for seven kills (2e, 17att). As a team, San Jose State had 13 kills (7e, 43att, .140) while the Bears mustered just nine kills on 32 attacks (7e, .062).

Cal returned to form in the third set as again, it never trailed. The Bears scored six straight points to nab a 7-1 lead to open the set but the Spartans responded to get to within three points at 14-11. The three-point margin turned into a wake-up call for Cal, which ran off an 8-1 run for a 22-12 lead as Gaffen and Cutura teamed up for a block. A kill by Cutura gave the Bears set point before Gaffen connected with Lloyd on a slide play to close the set, 25-15. The Bears posted a match-high 17 kills in the third set (3e, 32att, .438) and held the Spartans to 10 kills (6e, 33att, .121).

The Bears play host to Saint Mary's College (Sept. 18, 7 p.m.) and San Francisco (Sept. 19, 7 p.m.) next week in the Pac-10/WCC Challenge. Please check CalBears.com for updates and information.

2009 Molten/Hilton Garden Inn Classic All-Tournament Team
Hana Cutura, Sr., California (MVP)
Chenoa Coviare, Jr., Eastern Washington
Hayley Hills, Sr., Eastern Washington
Kristen Kathan, Sr., California
Carli Lloyd, Jr., California
Kristal Tsukano, Sr., San Jose State
Mindi Wiley, Sr., California