#1 Cal Volleyball Loses To #12 USC

by Avinash Kunnath on Sep 23, 2011 9:05 PM PDT in California Golden Bears Olympic Sports

The top-ranked California Golden Bears entered the loss column after dropping another visit to the Galen Center and the USC Trojans. Cal lost in straight sets 25-23, 25-20, 25-22, and will likely lose their top ranking.

I would call this an upset, except it's really not. Adrienne Gehan is out six to eight weeks with a dislocated ankle, so the Bears really won't be at full strength for the majority of the regular season. The Trojans are far from pushovers, and it looks like they took advantage of Gehan's absence. Gehan is one of the crucial cogs for the Bears. It does give Cal a chance to develop their younger players like Christina Higgins and Erin Freeman, but Gehan's importance (second in kills prior to this week as Tarah Murrey's partner-in-crime) cannot be understated.

It was nice being #1, but right now, the regular season will be all about developing the young players to make sure they're ready for the postseason stretch. Expect a lot of growing pains, but if the team can grow through the tough Pac-12 schedule, the results can pay off in a few months when Gehan returns.

It doesn't get any easier when the Bears play #12 UCLA tomorrow. That game will be streamed for free, so we should have an open thread in place. Go Bears!

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Disappointing but not that surprising

Cal wasn’t going to run the table this year, so a loss is bound to happen one of these games, especially without Gehan. Personally, I hate losing to U$C more than any other team in the Pac (even including Furd) but the important thing is that the Bears need to regroup to beat an equally tough UCLA team tomorrow night. UCLA jumped out to a 2 set to none lead on Stanfurd, but Furd is fighting back.

by LEastCoastBears on Sep 23, 2011 9:10 PM PDT reply actions

This is too bad. I want the 2011 Cal Volleyball team to be special. I hope they keep doing well, and minimize these sort of losses. Let’s beat the Baby Bears!

(And now there is added incentive for everyone to get out when the LA schools come to Cal. Those games are on Friday Oct 28 and Saturday Oct 29.)

by paleodan on Sep 24, 2011 8:50 AM PDT reply actions

i didn’t end up going last night. i feel like i let everyone down.

by fiatlux on Sep 24, 2011 11:57 AM PDT reply actions

UCLA won on a 5 setter over Furd

So in principle, Cal should be fresher.

by LEastCoastBears on Sep 24, 2011 4:32 PM PDT via iPhone app reply actions

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@ Stanford Rule Of Tree	Sat 11/19	L 28 - 31
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@ Texas Burnt Orange Nation	Wed 12/28	L 10 - 21