So much for being underdogs.
The Cal volleyball team has re-established itself as a top contender after a win over No. 19 Creighton this past weekend to take first place at the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, Neb.
The Bears (5-0) started the tournament with a win over South Florida in three sets, followed by a win over North Colorado on Saturday. Cal then prepared to take on the undefeated Bluejays on their home court in the championship game.
Creighton entered the contest with an impressive resume. In addition to being picked to win their conference, the Bluejays (4-1) have an impressive record at home — losing just one match since the beginning of the 2012 season at the Ryan Athletic Center.
But the Bears did not let Creighton’s home-court advantage rattle them. Cal took the first set with a close score of 26-24. The Bears managed to hold on by winning the second set, 25-21, and closing out the victory with a 25-16 win in the third set.
“For us, I think what was most important was that we didn’t drop a set,” said head coach Rich Feller. “We went into someone else’s house and controlled the tempo of the game.”
Passing was also a key part of the Bears’ game. According to Feller, the team spent most of the preseason working on passing in order to open up more opportunities to utilize all of its offensive weapons.
“This year’s team is a better passing team, and we’re working better together,” Feller said. “That’s not an accident. That’s something we felt we didn’t do as well last year, with or without the injuries. The passing is giving us the opportunity to improve in other areas of the game, and it’s making life a little bit easier now.”
A major reason for Cal’s successful offense is senior outside hitter and de facto leader Adrienne Gehan. With 18 kills and a .378 percentage against Creighton, Gehan left Omaha crowned the all-tournament MVP.
“Adrienne had about as good of a weekend as any player can have in Division I volleyball,” Feller said. “She made very few mistakes, and no one looked at her in any way other than that she was working her hardest and she was going to lead us.”
While Gehan led the team in kills this past weekend, she was not the only Cal player who led the Bears’ offensive drives. Sophomore middle blocker Lara Vukasovic, who finished the game with nine kills and a .471 percentage, and setter Joan Caloiaro, who finished the game with 35 assists, were also named to the all-tournament team.
Cal, which earned votes in last week’s AVCA Top 25 poll, will almost surely ascend the rankings after its performance against Creighton. Despite all of the success of the past weekend, Feller acknowledges that it is still very early in the season. But in its undefeated record, Cal hasn’t yet lost a set.
Alicia Fong covers volleyball. Contact her at [email protected]