Bears Host Buffs, No. 17 Utes At Haas

BERKELEY -- California volleyball returns to Haas Pavilion for a pair of Pac-12 Conference matchups with the mountain schools visiting Berkeley this weekend. 

The Bears open with a 7 p.m. first serve on Friday against Colorado on Cal live stream and face No. 17 Utah in a 1 p.m. match Sunday on the Pac-12 Networks. All fans 12 and older attending this week's matches at Haas Pavilion will be required to show proof of a full COVID-19 vaccination and a photo ID prior to entry.      

Cal trails in both of the all-time series, 6-13 (Colorado) and 10-14 (Utah).

1K CLUB x2 
2019 AVCA Pacific North All-Region and All-Pac-12 outside hitter Mima Mirkovic collected a career milestone during her first weekend back on the court with the Bears. Mirkovic hit 1,000 career digs in Cal's season-opening victory over Alabama A&M and followed by recording her 1,000th career kill in the Bears' win against Northwestern State. The Irvine, California, native became the eighth player in Cal history to hit the double 1K mark, following Lisa Arce, Jenna Brown, Jessica Dinaberg, Tarah Murrey, Alicia Perry, Angie Pressey and Tiffany Rochelle. Mirkovic was named MVP of the Pacific Tournament after totaling 30 kills and 41 digs in three matches over the second weekend of action. 

BACK IN BELLIZZI
Cal got a boost against Arizona and Arizona State with the season debut of libero Gabby Bellizzi. The Ladera Ranch, California native made an instant impact for the Bears, tallying a team-high 15 digs against the Wildcats on Oct. 1, including a diving, full-extension effort that led to a kill. Bellizzi added five assists against Arizona and followed with seven digs to go along with three assists against the Sun Devils on Oct. 3. 

SMOOT LEADS ATTACK
Katie Smoot is in her first season wearing the Blue and Gold and has quickly made her presence known in the Bears' offensive attack. Through the first six weeks of action, Smoot has recorded a team-high 194 kills which ranks ninth in the Pac-12 Conference. Smoot stands fourth in the Pac-12 in total attacks (616) and 119th among all Division I players.   

MAKING HER BERG-MARK
The Bears return experience in the middle in redshirt-junior Bella Bergmark, who started all 22 matches at middle blocker during the spring season and led the team with a .296 attack percentage while coming in fourth on the squad with 106 kills. The Larkspur, California, native tallied 24 kills on a .556 hitting percentage over the opening weekend to earn All-Tournament honors at Tulane and continued her All-Tournament streak by making all three tournament teams. Bergmark is currently fifth in the Pac-12 (38th in the nation) with a .386 attack percentage. 

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