Just when it looked like the California Golden Bears women's volleyball team might have made some noise for the best team in the country, the USC Trojans might have asserted that they're the best team in the conference.
In front of a pretty loud crowd at Haas Pavilion, Cal fell in four sets to USC, 25-21, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18 and lost for the second time this season to the Women of Troy. The Golden Bears defense simply had no answer for the Trojans hitters, who notched up 64 kills and a .303 attack percentage against a defensively sound Cal squad. USC turned it up in the final two sets with an incredible .389 and .486 attack percentage in each of those sets.
USC had the #1 ranked recruiting class, and their biggest haul was 6'4" Falyn Fonoimoana. You can't teach height, and Falyn tormented the Bears all night long. She racked up 20 kills on only 39 attempts. Alex Jupiter, perhaps the best all-around player in the conference, racked up 17 kills and Lauren Williams and Katie Fuller chipped in with 11 and 8 apiece. Kendall Bateman was the better setter on the night, serving up 58 assists and some very pretty balls for USC's hitters to knock into the hardwood.
Carli Lloyd provided her usual 49 assists, but her passes looked like they were a little off and she committed four attack errors. Tarrah Murrey stepped up her game with 21 kills and got great support from Correy Johnson and Kat Brown (12 kills apiece), but USC defended well enough to give the Trojan hitters more opportunities. Cal also committed 23 attack errors and were outblocked 12 to 7, flustered by the height and hitting prowess of the Trojans.
This shouldn't be too discouraging for the Bears. This year the Trojans have their number. They should just keep on winning...and increase their chances of not having to face USC again until next season.