Bears Come Up Short Against Sun Devils
TEMPE, Ariz. – California volleyball couldn't get going early in a 21-25, 14-25, 22-25 loss to Arizona State Friday afternoon at Desert Financial Arena.
The Bears got eight kills and five digs on the day from Katarina Pantovic and seven kills and four blocks from Lydia Grote. Cal (1-14) made a push to get back in the match in the third, but couldn't get over the top at the end of the frame after falling in a 2-0 hole. Kendall Jensen added 21 assists and seven digs for California.
Arizona State (3-10) was led by a match high 15 kills from Marta Levinska.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set was close to the media timeout with neither team taking larger than a three-point lead. Cal scored three of four points on an Isabel Potter ace and Pantovic kill to pull within 15-13. Grote and Sydney Lilomaiava combined for a block, followed by a Bella Bergmark ace to make it 20-20, but ASU scored the next three points and took the first set, 25-21.
ASU jumped out quickly in the second set, using a 6-0 run to go up 13-4 until a Deniz Milli and Bergmark block ended the drought. The Bears closed to within seven twice and couldn't get any closer as the Sun Devils took the set 25-14 for a 2-0 lead.
Cal used a 6-0 run of its own to start the third, thanks to back-to-back service aces from Jade Blevins for a 7-3 lead to force an ASU timeout. The Bears continued the run on kills from Grote and Taumoepeau, making it a 12-6 California advantage, before the Sun Devils returned the favor with six in a row of their own to tie it at 12. Kills from Grote and Bergmark gave Cal a one-point lead at 21-20 until ASU scored five of the final six points to complete the 3-0 win.
UP NEXT
The Bears finish the trip to Arizona with a 12 noon PT first serve Sunday, March 14 against the Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena. The match will be available via ASU live stream.
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