Cal Stopped By Arizona In McKale

TUCSON, Ariz. – California volleyball dropped a 15-25, 24-26, 18-25 decision to Arizona on Sunday afternoon at the McKale Center.  

Leah Schmidt recorded a team high eight kills for the Bears (7-16, 0-12 Pac-12). Bella Bergmark added seven kills on .375 hitting for Cal.

Puk Stubbe had a match best 17 kills for the Wildcats (14-9, 6-6 Pac-12). 

How It Happened:
Arizona opened the first with a run of six straight, taking an 8-2 lead as Cal spent a timeout. The advantage extended to 10-2 before a Bergmark kill ended the run. Schmidt recorded back-to-back kills as the Bears closed to within 12-7, but UA scored five of the next six to go up 17-8, forcing the second Cal timeout on the way to a 25-15 win in the frame.

The Bears got another run from Darian Clark at the service line, as the Arizona native recorded two straight aces to tie the score at eight-all. Arizona answered with a 5-0 run, propelled by three Sofia Maldonado Diaz kills for a 15-9 lead. Two Sam Taumoepeau kills were part of three straight Cal points  to close within two, 17-15, until four straight from UA out of a timeout made it 21-15. The Bears showed grit, tying the score at 24 behind three Schmidt kills and two from Bergmark, but came up short 26-24.  

UA jumped in front opening the third, going up 9-3 and California couldn't get closer than three the rest of the way as the Cats closed out the set and match.

Up Next: The Bears return to Berkeley and Haas Pavilion for a 7 p.m. first serve against Oregon State on Friday, Nov. 5.

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