BERKELEY, Calif. - The Southern Utah University women's volleyball team came up short against California on Saturday, Sept. 2, falling in three sets. The Thunderbirds move to 2-4 on the year, while the Golden Bears improve to 5-0 overall.
COACH KACEY NADY SAYS
"Cal is a physical team in a great conference. This was a match that will help prepare us moving forward. We were able to execute many things we've been working on lately. Our team never gave up and fought hard regardless of what the score or last play was. We look forward to applying the lessons we learned this week in practice to prepare for Fresno St."
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Andrea Spasojevic powered the offense with seven kills. Carissa Richie (6), Hana Makonova (5), and Madison Walker (5) added to the 'Birds attack with kills of their own. Teniyah Leuluai put her teammates in position to score, dishing out a team-high 23 assists.
Defensively, Calli Johnson led the team with 10 digs, while Spasojevic and Richie each recorded two blocks.
MATCH RECAP
Southern Utah took a 7-5 advantage to begin the first set. Cal fired back with five consecutive points to take a 10-7 lead. The 'Birds used a 3-1 run to get back within one, 11-10, but that was the closest they would get. The Golden Bears sprinted ahead with a 6-0 burst and never looked back, taking the set 25-17.
Cal stayed hot in set two, jumping out to an 8-3 lead. Andrea Spasojevic added a block and a kill to help spark a 5-1 SUU run to trim the lead to 9-8. The Golden Bears scored six of the next seven points to rebuild their advantage. Southern Utah attempted a comeback, getting within four points late in the set (19-15), but it wasn't enough as Cal seized the set 25-16.
Cal claimed a 10-4 lead early in set three. Spasojevic and Molly McDermott added kills to help get the 'Birds back within striking distance, cutting the lead to five midway through the set (13-8). Madison Walker led SUU with three kills in set three, but the lead proved insurmountable as the Golden Bears used a 12-6 stretch to win the set 25-14 and the match 3-0.
UP NEXT
Southern Utah returns to the America First Event Center on Friday, Sept. 8 for its home debut against Fresno State. The match is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. MT.
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