Cal Drops Tournament Finale To Butler

BERKELEY – Katie Smoot recorded a match-high 17 kills, but California came up short in a 23-25, 25-16, 16-25, 23-25 defeat against Butler to close out the Cal Classic Saturday afternoon at Haas Pavilion.

Mima Mirkovic tallied her third double-double of the season with a match best 17 digs to go along with 13 kills. Bella Bergmark added five kills and six digs for the Bears (6-3). Bergmark was named to the All-Tournament team after collecting 20 kills and 12 blocks in the three matches for the Bears. 

After the Bulldogs took the opening frame, Cal bounced back in the second set. Leading 15-13, the Bears used a 5-0 run to take a seven-point lead on a Smoot kill. Butler closed it to 22-16 before three straight points, including kills from Bergmark and Mirkovic gave the Bears the win and evened the match.

Butler responded in the third to lead 2-1 in the match and Cal looked primed to send it to a fifth and deciding set midway through the fourth with leads of 18-13 and 23-20 on a Mirkovic finish. The Bulldogs, however, went on to score the final five points of the set to take the match, 3-1.

Up Next: The Bears return to Haas Pavilion on Wednesday, Sept. 15, for a 6 p.m. first serve against Saint Mary's.

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