Aug. 21, 2012

BERKELEY - As the California volleyball 2012 season approaches, CalBears.com will be looking back at some of the former talented Golden Bears who have helped build the perennial powerhouse countdown and the jerseys they wore. With just four days remaining until the start of this year's campaign, CalBears.com caught up with Alicia Powers, who wore No. 4 and started every match of her Cal career.

Student-Athlete Spotlight - Alicia Powers (MH, 2002-05)
As a freshman, Powers was third in the team in aces, digs and blocks. During her sophomore year of 2003, she garnered Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention and hit .284 with 163 digs and 119 blocks. In 2004, she was second on the team in blocks with 109, she earned an All-Pac-10 athletic and academic honorable mention. During her senior year, Powers was third on the team with 2.51 kills per set, starting every match that year and every year of her Cal career. In 2005, she repeated with All-Pac-10 academic and athletic honorable mentions.

CalBears.com: What made you choose your number?

Alicia Powers: I was hoping to get 8, which was my number in high school/club, but an upper\classman already had it. So I decided to take the same number as a previous Cal superstar (and one of my club coaches) Brook Coulter.

CalBears.com: What does it mean to be one of the Bears to have worn your number?

AP: It's an honor to just have worn a Cal jersey. It doesn't matter what number I had.

CalBears.com: What was your favorite Golden Bear memory?

AP: Beating UCLA for the first time in school history.

AP: When I first started at Cal, it felt like a huge personal accomplishment, which it was. But I came to learn that I was a small part of this even bigger program that achieved and is continuing to achieve amazing things.

CalBears.com: What are you up to these days?

AP: I'm working in Walnut Creek at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation as an intake and behavior specialist. In May, I played in USA Volleyball's Premier League with the NCVA's Dream Team, and we finished in the top eight at Adult Nationals. In my spare time, I help coach a high school team and a local club team.

All-Time Jersey No. 4 Wearers:
Tarah Murrey (2008-11)
Bryte Nielson (2006)
Alicia Powers (2002-05)
Brook Coulter (1996-99)
Danielle Mashy (1993-95)
Leigh Marston (1992)
Hopi Hoekstra (1991)
Sara Allison (1987-90)
Esther Van Wingerden (1986)
Karen Roitz (1982-85)

By the Numbers:(click to read)
44
25
21
20
14
12
11
10
9
4