Nov. 13, 2010
Box Score
PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington State volleyball team (6-18 overall, 0-14 Pac-10) played another very competitive Pacific-10 Conference match Saturday night in Bohler Gym but was swept by the No. 5 California Golden Bears (23-2, 13-2) with set scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 25-20.
Tarah Murrey and Shannon Hawari combined for 28 kills as California hit .483 as a team. Hawari led the match with five blocks as the visitors doubled-up the Cougars in team blocks, 7.0 to 3.5. Carli Lloyd had 47 assist and Robin Rostratter led the match with 12 digs.
WSU's Rachel Todorovich had 10 kills while hitting .421, and led the team with seven digs, two blocks and two aces. Brittany Tillman led the Cougars with 11 kills. Sara Biondi had 30 assists.
"I thought we put ourselves in position to give ourselves an opportunity to win at least two sets in game two and game three," WSU Head Coach Andrew Palileo said. "We did some nice things. Rachel had a good night coming off of a good night last night. Our middles were more involved tonight so Sara did a good job of putting up some hit-able balls. Cal is solid all-around and Tarah Murrey is having a really great year. It came down to outside versus outside. And their middles did a good job of hitting around our block. They are a good team.
Cougars were only down three points when California went on a seven to three run and took the first set 25-18. The Golden Bears doubled the Cougs in kills (16 to 8) and the visitors hit .407 while WSU hit .125.
There were 16 ties in the second set including at 21-points all. California closed out the set with four straight points and a .562 hitting percentage, for the 25-21 win. WSU hit .389 for this set with Tillman landing five kills.
Third set had eight ties but only two lead changes as the Cougars could not catch the Golden Bears after a 12-all tie. Cal went ahead 23-17 when Tillman landed two points and Marcelina Glab another to shorten the deficit. But Murrey took control, scoring the final three attacks for the 25-20 win.
"Our team is definitely improving and progressing toward what we want to be. It is all about us making it to the next level and people turning it up a notch," Todorovich said post-match. "I'm excited to play Arizona and Arizona State. We played with them when we played them at home. Arizona State took us to five games and we're excited to play them again."
Washington State takes its last road trip of the 2010 season, playing at Arizona (18-8, 7-6) Friday, Nov. 19, and at Arizona State (11-5, 5-8), Saturday, Nov. 20.
