Just three days removed from its victorious final homestand of the season, the No. 7 Cal volleyball team is on the road again.

Luckily for the Bears, they appear to be in the right frame of mind for a quick turnaround.

"We've been really pumped, happy," sophomore setter Carli Lloyd said. "We've been working really hard, and it's been an enjoyable atmosphere for first time in a while which is good."

On Saturday night, Cal (22-5, 12-4 in the Pac-10) rode a wave of momentum deriving from a second set comeback to handily defeat No. 11 USC, a win that restored confidence to the squad.

"I think that it usually happens to us where we're the team that's leading and then we lose," junior outside hitter Hana Cutura said. "It's happened before, and it's great to be on the other side to have that comeback and actually win that game."

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the Bears will be travelling first to Corvallis, Ore., to face Oregon State (14-15, 3-13) at 4:30 on Wednesday. On Friday evening, Cal will to see No. 8 Oregon (22-7, 10-6) in the battle of top-10 teams.

The matches are being played unusually early in the week to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Civil War, the annual football game between the Beavers and the Ducks, and because of the abridged practice schedule, the Bears chose to spend most of their time in the gym working on tactical skills.

"We just wanted to get better at a couple things," coach Rich Feller said. "Try to get our middle attacks a little bit better. Blocking, back row attack a little bit better. And reviewing some of the basic fundamental things like getting ready earlier and being in position sooner and identifying what's going on with the other side quicker."

The extra long roadtrip also gives Cal the unique opportunity to improve team chemistry. With the off-day on Thanksgiving, the squad is planning a team dinner and trip to the movie theatre, simple team bonding activities that take on more meaning in the crucial weeks leading up to the NCAA tournament.

"And we are actually excited to be in Oregon for five days and just to spend time with the team," Cutura said. "Just kind of bond a little more … It's important to just kind of hang out together and talk amongst ourselves about the game."

The Oregon roadtrip also holds significance for the Bears in two other ways. One more Cal victory will give the program an all-time best mark for conference wins in a single season.

A weekend sweep holds additional postseason implications for the Bears. Cal is vying for one of the first round regional host sites in the upcoming NCAA tournament, a bid that the Bears lost out on last season, much to the team's disappointment.

"It's important because it's the last regular season matches," Feller said. "We want to execute well and perform well … (so that Cal can) host in the NCAAs in a couple weeks after that."

Tags: CAL VOLLEYBALL, RICH FELLER, HANA CUTURA, CARLI LLOYD