No. 14 Golden Bears Knock Off No. 16 USC in Four

Carli Lloyd's match-high 46 assists moved her into third ahead of Holly McPeak in all-time career assists at Cal

Oct. 31, 2009

BERKELEY - Senior outside hitter Hana Cutura led the California volleyball team with 22 kills as the No. 14 Golden Bears took out No. 16 USC in four sets (25-19, 25-16, 24-26, 25-20) Saturday, Oct. 31, at Haas Pavilion. Cal moved to 13-8 on the year with a 6-5 Pac-10 record as the Women of Troy fell to 15-8 overall and 4-7 in the Pac-10. Junior setter Carli Lloyd dished out a match-high 46 assists and moved ahead of Holly McPeak (1987-89) into third for all-time career assists at Cal with 3,829. Lloyd added four kills (1e, 12att, .250) and five blocks with 10 digs to log her sixth double-double of the year.

Cutura attacked efficiently again as she posted her 22 kills on 45 attacks (6e) to log a .356 attack rate and added seven digs. Senior libero Kristen Kathan led all players with 20 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Tarah Murrey came up with 12 kills (8e, 37att, .108) to go with her 11 digs to post her sixth double-double of the season along with Lloyd. Senior middle hitter Mindi Wiley spurred the Bears with 13 kills (4e, 23att, .391) and had a match-high seven blocks. The Bears posted a .241 attack percentage as they logged 58 kills on 137 attacks (25e) and took home the blocking edge, 12.0-11.0.

USC senior outside hitter Jessica Gysin led the Trojans with 14 kills (7e, 46att, .152) and had nine digs with two service aces. The Bears held USC's sophomore outside hitter Alex Jupiter to a paltry -.023 attack percentage with 12 kills (13e, 43att). Trojan senior libero Alli Hilgren led USC with 14 digs. As a team, the Trojans put up 47 kills (30e, 149att) and attacked at a .114 percentage.

The Trojans' junior middle blocker Audrey Eichler earned her eighth kill of the match (3e, 21att, .238) to knot the fourth set for the sixth time at 20-all. The Bears responded to force Eichler into a hitting error before they really stepped on the gas to close out the match, 25-20. First, freshman middle hitter Kat Brown took a quick set from Lloyd to put Cal up by two, 22-20. Lloyd then went up one-on-one with Gysin and stuffed the USC attacker for the three-point lead. Cutura took a high ball from Lloyd on the next play to crush her 22nd kill of the match and set the Bears up with match point. Kathan's fourth straight serve set USC up with Gysin coming from the left for an attack but Lloyd and Brown met at the net to turn Gysin away once more and seal the Cal victory. The Bears posted a .231 attack percentage in the final set with 15 kills (6e, 39att) and held the Trojans to a .140 attack rate with 14 kills (7e, 50att).

Cal took its first lead of the match at 5-4 in the first set as Brown and freshman opposite hitter Correy Johnson teamed up to block Gysin's attack. The Bears pulled out to a 14-10 advantage when Cutura blasted her second consecutive kill. Cal extended that lead to six points at 17-11 as Brown dropped a kill on the Trojans off a quick set from Lloyd. Wiley went up and sent an overplayed pass back to the floor for a 20-13 Cal lead but USC fought back to earn a couple of points before Murrey closed the set, 25-19, for Cal with her kill. The Bears put up a .310 attack percentage with 16 kills (7e, 29att) in the opening set and held USC to 10 kills on 27 attacks (7e, .111).

USC appeared to take control of the second set as the Trojans went up by three points at 7-4 on a Gysin kill. The Bears continued to claw back and forced Jupiter to attack long to knot the set at nine-all. Jupiter's next attack was met by the hands of Cutura and Wiley as the Cal block gave the Bears a 10-9 lead. Cal went up by three points at 17-14 on another Jupiter attack error and the Bears clamped down to run out the set for a 25-16 victory. Junior defensive specialist Meagan Schmitt came in and served four straight points to give the Bears a 21-16 lead before a kill by Wiley put Cal up, 23-16. Cutura's final shot sealed the set for the Bears. Cal attacked at a .286 rate in the second set with 12 kills (4e, 28att) and held the Trojans to as many kills as errors, nine (35att, .000).

The third set saw 12 tied scores before USC was able to pull out a 26-24 win. A Murrey kill put Cal ahead, 20-19, but Gysin responded to take a set from sophomore setter Kendall Bateman and knot the set at 20-all. USC got a service ace and blocked a Cutura attack to take a two-point lead at 22-20 but the Bears fought back to tie the set at 22-all. This time, Cal went ahead, 23-22, as Gysin's attack missed the mark. Again, USC earned a 23-all tie; and a 24-all tie as Wiley logged an attack error. Wiley's attack was turned away by Jupiter to give USC a 25-24 lead before Jupiter went up and killed the final ball to give USC the third set. The Bears recorded 15 kills (8e, 41att, .171) in the third and USC put up 14 kills (7e, 37att, .189).

Cal hits the road next weekend as they take on Washington State on Friday, Nov. 6, in Pullman, Wash. and Washington on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Seattle, Wash. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. PT starts. Please check CalBears.com for more details and information.