THIS WEEK: Fri. Nov. 5 USC, Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 7 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 6 UCLA, Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA 7 p.m.

HEAD COACH RICH FELLER: Rich Feller (10-11 at Cal, career 309-178, .634) is in his first season as the head coach of Cal's women's volleyball program. Feller took over the Bears coaching reins when he was hired in December 1998. He comes to Cal after a stint as an assistant coach on the USA National Team and 14 successful years as head coach at Colorado State (1983-96) where he led the Rams to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and 12 Top 25 national rankings. Feller earned his 300th career victory when the Bears defeated Denver, 3-1, Sept. 4.

BEAR NOTES: The Cal volleyball team (10-11, 5-7 Pac-10) will have a tough challenge as the Bears host No. 17 ranked USC (15-5, 10-3 in the Pac-10), Friday Nov. 5 and No. 7 ranked UCLA (21-1, 13-0 Pac-10, at Stanford Nov. 5) Saturday, Nov. 6. Cal fell to both UCLA and USC, 3-0, earlier this season, Oct. 8-9 in Los Angeles. The last time the Bears have defeated one of the L.A. schools was Nov. 15, 1991 when Cal topped USC, 3-2, in Harmon Gym. The Bears have never defeated UCLA in women's volleyball (0-37). Last weekend, Cal had a successful trip to Oregon, defeating the Ducks, 3-0 (15-13, 15-7, 15-7), Oct. 28 and Oregon State, 3-0 (15-10, 15-9, 15-8), Oct. 29 in a match televised live by Fox Sports Net. Combined with the Oct. 1-2 home victories over the Oregon schools, it was the first time the Bears have swept Oregon and Oregon State since the 1993 season. Under first year head coach Rich Feller, Cal is currently 10-11 overall and 5-7 in the Pac-10. With seven matches to go, the Bears have already won more matches, both overall and league, since Cal went 13-15 and 5-13 in conference in 1995. The Bears were 8-20, 3-15 in 1996, 8-19, 3-15 in 1997 and 7-22, 3-15 in 1998. Freshman outside hitter Courtney Guerra had a solid weekend in Cal's 3-0 victories over Oregon and Oregon State. Guerra had eight kills with no errors in 16 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage against the Ducks, followed by eight kills with two errors in 17 attempts (.353 hitting percentage) versus the Beavers. She is also the Bears leader in total blocks (73) this season. Senior outside hitter Brook Coulter continues to lead Cal with 243 kills, 34 service aces and 266 digs on the year. In the earlier victories over the Oregon schools this year, the Bears received an impressive performance from sophomore setter/outside hitter Candace McNamee. McNamee was named Pac-10 Player of the Week and is now featured in the Nov. 1 issue of Sports Illustrated's Faces in the Crowd after breaking a school record with a .917 hitting percentage against the Ducks Oct. 1, followed by a triple-double (14 kills, 14 digs, 36 assists) against the Beavers Oct. 2. Cal continues to be a strong serving team this season, leading the Pac-10 with an average of 1.82 service aces per game (133 total service aces).

CAL VS. THE OPPONENTS: Cal has a 6-25 all-time record against USC, falling to the Trojans, 3-0 (15-8, 15-12, 15-10), Oct. 9 in Los Angeles. USC is currently 15-5 and 10-3 in the Pac-10, having last defeated Washington, 3-0, Oct. 29 and Washington State, 3-0, Oct. 30 in Los Angeles. The Trojans are led by junior outside hitter Antoinette Polk with 283 kills and 251 digs. Cal has a 0-37 all-time record against UCLA, losing to the Bruins, 3-0 (15-2, 15-11, 15-7), Oct. 8 in Los Angeles. UCLA is currently 21-1 overall and 13-0 in the Pac-10, having won 19 matches in a row entering the week and last defeating Washington, 3-0, Oct. 28 and Washington State, 3-0, Oct. 29 in Los Angeles. The Bruins are led by sophomore outside hitter Kristee Porter with 391 kills and 189 digs.

1999 Player Notes

CAL CAREER LEADERS

Kills

Attempts

Assists

Service Aces

Digs

Total Blocks

KELLIE ALVA: Had 11 kills with three errors in 19 attempts for a .421 hitting percentage Oct. 19 at SJSÉhad seven kills, two errors in 10 attempts (.500 hitting percentage) Oct. 1 versus Oregon...had a career-high 38 kill attempts Sept. 18 at WSU...was named to the PowerBar Invitational all-tournament team Sept. 4 in Colorado... tied a career-high with 17 kills with only three errors in 25 attempts (.560 hitting percentage) Sept. 4 at Denver...had a career-high nine block assists and 16 digs Sept. 3 at Colorado...is currently fifth on the school's all-time career total block list (314)...second on team in total blocks (68)...Pac-10 All-Freshman in 1996.

BROOK COULTER: Had seven service aces versus Utah Sept. 25, becoming the Cal all-time service ace leader (now has 153 career aces)...is now also seventh in digs (1015), eighth in kill attempts (2749) and 10th in kills (869)...currently leads team in kills (243), digs (266) and service aces (34)...was named to the PowerBar Invitational all-tournament team Sept. 4 in Colorado...in the two tournament matches recorded 34 kills and 35 digs...had a career-high 21 kills Sept. 3 at Colorado...was fourth in the nation and led the Pac-10 in service aces (56, third-best all-time Cal single-season mark) and in ace average (0.74 apg) last season...also last year broke the school record for single-match service aces with nine aces Oct. 16 at Oregon.

CANDACE MCNAMEE: Was named Pac-10 Player of the Week (Oct. 4) and is in the Nov. 1 issue of Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd after breaking a school record with a .917 hitting percentage (11 kills, no errors, 12 attempts) Oct. 1 versus Oregon and recording a triple-double (14 kills, 14 digs, 36 assists) Oct. 2 versus OSU...had a career-high three service aces versus BYU Sept. 24...tallied 52 assists at Washington and 57 assists at WSU Sept. 17-18...recorded a career-high 63 assists and three service aces Sept. 3 at Colorado...currently has 1,759 career assists, which is already third on the Cal career assist list...her 1,101 assists last season was the 10th-best Cal single-season mark.

LEAH YOUNG: Had exceptional college debut Sept. 1 against Hawaii, with seven kills with no errors in 13 attempts for a .538 hitting percentage)...recorded a season-high 12 kills with only two errors in 24 attempts for a .417 hitting percentage Sept. 17 at Washington...had a career-high five block assists Sept. 28 versus Santa Clara.

ALICIA PERRY: Recorded a career-high 29 kills and 73 attempts Sept. 25 versus Utah...had 35 kills and 20 digs during the two matches of the PowerBar Invitational Sept. 3-4...had a career-high two block solos and five total blocks Sept. 3 at Colorado...had a career-high four block assists Sept. 25 versus Utah...leads the team with 236 kills and is second in digs with 142...led Cal with 11 digs Sept. 1 versus Hawaii...led the team in kills (331) and digs (298) last season.

COURTNEY GUERRA: Leads the team in total blocks (73) and is third in service aces (19)...had 16 kills with only two errors in 33 attempts Oct. 28-29 at UO and OSU...recorded a career-high seven block assists Oct. 19 at SJS...had career-high nine kills and two errors in 17 attempts (.412 hitting percentage) Sept. 25 versus Utah...had career-high three block solos Oct. 2 versus OSU...had three service aces Sept. 3 at Colorado.

CAITY NOONAN: The freshman setter had a season-high 25 assists Oct. 2 versus OSU...was impressive Sept. 17-18 at UW and WSU, recording a season-high six kills with no errors in 15 attempts (.400 hitting percentage) against WSU...also had two service aces and seven digs versus the Huskies...had a team-high 12 digs Sept. 8 against EWU and then had a team-high four service aces Sept. 12 against Wisc. GB...second on team with 24 service aces.

LAUREL KOKASKA: Junior college transfer played well off the bench to record a season-high 12 kills Sept. 17 at Washington...came back and had nine kills and a season-high 15 digs Sept. 18 at WSU...had two service aces Sept. 25 versus Utah...started Oct. 29 at OSU and had eight kills and 12 digs.

1999 University of California Volleyball Season Highs (as of 10/29) (TEAM/INDIVIDUAL)

INDIVIDUAL

KELLIE ALVA
Kills: 17 at Denver, 9/4
Attempts: 38 at Washington State, 9/18
Service Aces: 2 at Washington, 9/17
Digs: 16 at Colorado, 9/3
Block Solos: 2 at USC, 10/9
Block Assists: 9 at Colorado, 9/3
Total Blocks: 9 at Colorado, 9/3

CANDACE MCNAMEE
Kills: 14 vs. Oregon State, 10/2
Attempts: 40 vs. Arizona State, 10/15
Assists: 63 at Colorado, 9/3
Service Aces: 3 at Colorado, 9/3, vs. BYU, 9/25
Digs: 14 vs. Oregon State, 10/2
Block Solos: 1 vs. three teams
Block Assists: 5 at Col., 9/3, vs. Oregon State, 10/2
Total Blocks: 5 at Col., 9/3, Oregon State, 10/2

BROOK COULTER
Kills: 21 at Colorado, 9/3
Attempts: 61 vs. Stanford, 9/21
Service Aces: 7 vs. Utah, 9/25
Digs: 21 vs. OSU, 10/2, vs. ASU, 10/15
Block Solos: 2 at Washington, 9/17
Block Assists: 3 vs. BYU, 9/24, at San Jose State, 10/19
Total Blocks: 3 vs. BYU, 9/24

LEAH YOUNG
Kills: 12 at Washington, 9/17
Attempts: 31 at Colorado, 9/3, at WSU, 9/18
Service Aces: 0
Digs: 3 vs. Hawaii, 9/1, at Oregon, 10/28
Block Solos: 1 at USC, 10/9, at Oregon State, 10/29
Block Assists: 5 vs. Santa Clara, 9/28, vs. ASU, 10/15
Total Blocks: 5 vs. Santa Clara, 9/28, vs. ASU, 10/15

COURTNEY GUERRA
Kills: 9 vs. Utah, 9/25
Attempts: 23 vs. Oregon State, 10/2
Service Aces: 3 at Colorado, 9/3
Digs: 12 at Denver, 9/4
Block Solos: 3 vs. Oregon State, 10/2
Block Assists: 7 at San Jose State, 10/19
Total Blocks: 7 vs. Utah, 9/25, at San Jose State, 10/19

CAITY NOONAN
Kills: 6 at Washington State, 9/18
Attempts: 15 at Washington State, 9/18
Assists: 25 vs. Oregon State, 10/2
Service Aces: 4 vs. Wisc. GB, 9/12
Digs: 17 vs. Arizona State, 10/15
Block Solos: 0
Block Assists: 2 at Washington, 9/17, at WSU, 9/18
Total Blocks: 2 at Washington, 9/17, at WSU, 9/18

ALICIA PERRY
Kills: 29 vs. Utah, 9/25
Attempts: 73 vs. Utah, 9/25
Service Aces: 2 vs. three teams
Digs: 13 at Colorado, 9/3
Block Solos: 2 at Colorado, 9/3, vs. ASU, 10/15
Block Assists: 4 vs. Utah, 9/25
Total Blocks: 5 at Colorado, 9/3, vs. Utah, 9/25

LAUREL KOKASKA
Kills: 12 at Washington, 9/17
Attempts: 36 at Washington, 9/17
Service Aces: 2 vs. Utah, 9/25, at OSU, 10/29
Digs: 15 at Washington State, 9/18
Block Solos: 0
Block Assists: 1 vs. Oregon, 10/1, at OSU, 10/29
Total Blocks: 1 vs. Oregon, 10/1, at OSU, 10/29