In 2011, Cal suffered an agonizing first-round loss at the hands of the Tar Heels. In Ames, Iowa on Friday night, history repeated itself. Cal’s tumultuous season ended with a 3-1 (26-24, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25) defeat to UNC (26-5) in the first round of the tournament.

“It’s been a great four years with our seniors, but unfortunately they were unable to finish on one of their best years,” coach Rich Feller said.

Cal (15-16) began their 11th straight appearance to the NCAA tournament with a nightmarish start. Cal struggled with serve and receive to begin the set, quickly falling behind 8-2 and in need of a timeout.

“We were losing because of our mistakes,” senior Kat Brown said. “It wasn’t physical errors — it was the mental errors.”

The Bears turned things around, pulling even late in the set at 20-20. Even more surprising, Cal had the opportunity to steal the set with match point at 24-23 after a double block by outside hitter Christina Higgins and middle blocker Shannon Hawari.

However, a critical double hit error by freshman Lara Vukasovic tied the match at 24-24. And then two straight points by the Tar Heels gave them the set victory, 27-25.

UNC’s offense created issues for the Bears to begin the second set. After Caloiaro and Hawari each had to dive to keep a ball alive, the net was wide open for a quick Tar Heel kill.

At 22-21 in favor of UNC, an impressive effort by the back three of the Tar Heels not only prevented Gehan from registering another kill but  also led to a counter kill.

“North Carolina kept us out of rhythm,” Feller said. “Every time we had some momentum, they would take the ball out of the air and make something happen.”

UNC converted their second opportunity at set point only minutes later, winning the frame 25-23 and taking the 2-0 lead going into the break.

With their season hanging in the balance, the Bears played well in the third frame, executing offensively and playing in system. The seniors — Brown and Hawari — played a major part, carrying the Bears to the 25-18 set victory, contributing both offensively and defensively.

The fourth set began as a dramatic affair but ended in a blowout.  Through the 24th point, the set had seen multiple ties and lead changes. However, UNC began a 9-3 run to put the game out of reach.

“In the third set, we were digging more balls and passing better, but in the fourth it all went away,” Hawari said.

With the Bears on the brink of elimination, Tar Heel freshman Victoria McPherson provided the final blow.

UNC won the set 25-16 and was on to the second round. Cal was on their way home.

Austin Crochetiere covers volleyball. Contact him at acrochetiere@dailycal.org

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For the third consecutive year, Cal faces No. 24 North Carolina (25-5) in the NCAA volleyball tournament at 3 p.m. in Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum at Ames, Iowa.

After the Bears ended the Tar Heels’ 2010 season in a three-set sweep, the Tar Heels responded with an upset victory in five sets last year.

And the seniors have not forgotten one bit of the loss.

“Last year, we were not pleased with that match (and) with how we finished,” senior middle hitter Kat Brown said. “We’re looking forward to playing UNC again and getting some revenge.”

But revenge might not come so easily. The UNC squad that knocked the Bears out last season brings back all but four players.

Familiar faces are still around, especially senior outside hitter Emily McGee who leads the team with an average of 2.69 kills per set. In addition, the Tar Heels have added a fresh weapon.

Middle blocker Paige Neuenfeldt has done nothing but impress this season with a .331 hitting percentage, eighth in the ACC. The freshman also has averaged 1.17 blocks per set, fourth best in the conference.

“They’re a team that battles,” senior middle hitter Shannon Hawari said. “It will be good to have a team that will fight with us.”

Although North Carolina’s impressive 16-4 ACC record trumps the Bears’ 9-11 record in Pac-12 play, the ACC is nowhere close to the competition the Bears have faced out west.

Out of the ACC, No. 23 Miami is the only other school ranked in the top 25. But in the Pac-12, five schools are ranked in the top seven.

Considering such a difficult conference schedule, Hawari feels like the Bears’ work ethic shown in practice has not translated well in their overall record.

“We’re not used to where the work we put in is not reflected in our record,” Hawari said. “It’s been a lot of work in keeping everyone positive, staying determined.”

Despite wins over top-10 teams in Hawaii and Oregon, Brown sees so much talent yet to be displayed. For Brown, the effort was there, but the victories did not follow.

“I know there’s a lot deciding in what teams make it, (but) I know our team’s potential,” Brown said. “Knowing we haven’t reached it is just a great feeling — we have another chance to get to our potential.”

To reach said potential, Cal’s veterans must conduct the pace of the game. In potentially their last game for Cal, outside hitter Adrienne Gehan and middle hitter Correy Johnson need to help Hawari land deadly kills.

The seniors’ focus and determination to live for one more game will be there on the court. But they will need more than just heart to survive.

“We all know every game is our last game,” Feller said. “There’s always Cinderella teams, and maybe it’s us this year.”

Andrew Davis covers volleyball. wdavis@dailycal.org

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But they had failed.

“The loss puts us on the bubble,” Cal coach Rich Feller said. “It’s like a boxing match, you never want to leave it up to the judges and you want something decisive. It’s out of our hands now.”

The Big Spike turned into a quick and decisive 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-19) sweep for Stanford (27-3, 19-1), a game that acted like a microcosm of Cal’s entire season.

“There were times we battled and there were other times that one little thing took us out of sync, and we lost points because of it,” Feller said. “It was a mini-story of the whole season.”

In the first set, the Bears showed some grit after falling behind 18-13. A 6-2 run fueled by two kills from junior Adrienne Gehan brought the Bears to within two at 21-19. However, three straight points by the Cardinal put the set out of reach, eventually winning 25-20.

The second frame was the strongest set for Cal in the contest in which the Bears led most of the way. By the 32nd point the Bears still held a lead at 17-15 following a powerful kill and block by senior Corey Johnson playing in possibly her last game at Haas Pavilion.

However, the lead would not last for the Bears. Cal committed five critical hitting errors as the set was coming down to the wire, points that would eventually give the Cardinal the set victory.

“At the 20-20 range, if we had gotten half of those swings, who knows what would have happened,” Feller said.

Down two sets, the Bears seemed to lose focus in the third frame. Although Cal found themselves within two at 15-13, that was the closest Cal would get in the third set.

“I like how we played in sets one and two,” Feller said. “In set three we had too many let downs, a ball dropping between two players or somebody not paying attention, to be competitive.”

Stanford cruised to the 25-19 set victory, finishing their season as Pac-12 champs and locks for the NCAA postseason. Cal, meanwhile, can only sit and wait for the selection show on Sunday to know their fate.

The feeling of postseason uncertainty is new to the Cal seniors, who have easily earned bids in the past. The graduating Bears careers may have ended on a sour note with the loss against their rivals, and their faces said it all.

“Looking at them after the match, there is a lot of disappointment on faces,” Feller said. “Shannon Hawari, Correy Johnson and Kat Brown probably left the court not feeling satisfied, but they had given everything they could give.”

Austin Crochetiere covers volleyball. Contact him at acrochetiere@dailycal.org

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But the emotional withdrawal from being unable to play volleyball for nearly a year ate her alive.

On Sept. 6, 2009, Hawari and the then-No. 10 Cal volleyball team faced Hawaii in Honolulu. It was the middle hitter’s sixth game in 10 days, and the flight to Hawaii made her physically drained.

“It’s a long road trip,” Hawari says. “We had just played a game and everyone was fatigued. That may have been a reason for (the injury).”

The game had barely started. Cal was up by 13-11 in the first set. As the Bears were attacking, Hawari positioned herself and jumped to hit the ball quickly over the net.

But when the sophomore landed on her left foot, she immediately collapsed. She couldn’t put any pressure on her knee, but there was no severe pain. The sophomore even went behind the bench to jump around to shake it off.

“I came off the court and was freaking out,” Hawari says. “I realized that something didn’t feel right — (my leg) wasn’t going to work.”

A week later, Hawari found out that her ACL was torn. Her season was over; she redshirted and immediately joined a physical therapy program.

Hawari, now equipped with crutches, watched games from the sidelines. Countless hours of fitness training over the past summer were all for naught.

Her withdrawal from volleyball made her desperate to quench her spiking thirst. She was determined to return to the court as soon as possible.

“I was so frustrated because I had gotten so much stronger and lost it,” Hawari says. “I just wanted to get back out there as fast as possible.”

The longest Hawari had not played volleyball prior to the injury was only two months. Nine months was like a prison sentence.

The sport’s absence gave her a lot of time to think about things she normally would not. Hawari was becoming increasingly worried about the team moving without her — as teammates progressed, Hawari lagged behind in her crutches.

Her absence made her feel like she had to prove something to both her teammates and herself.

While injuries typically tame an athlete, Hawari’s injury fueled a newfound drive.

“When I came out of high school I thought my work ethic was as good as it could,” Hawari says. “I had to relearn how much I could push myself.”

Taking every physical therapy session extremely seriously, Hawari’s body responded well to the treatment. Hawari stood on a bosu ball with her strong leg, promoting muscle control and endurance. She also engaged in single-leg squatting to prevent her good leg from going limp.

“During rehab, it didn’t hurt,” Hawari says. “It was the fact that I couldn’t really hold my knee together that held me back.”

Numerous therapy sessions later, Hawari was back on the court in before the 2010 season. The only difference now was that Hawari wore a heavy brace made of titanium around her knee.

When the 2010 season began, trainers told Hawari that she could still not jump directly off her left knee. As a result, the majority of the sets she ran were in front of the setter off of two feet to take pressure off her protected knee.

“There were games where I couldn’t get off the floor because it felt so painful,” Hawari says. “Pushing my rehab and coming back really fast isn’t the best for injuries.”

But Hawari did not let the pain slow her down and started in 32 matches that 2010 season. The Bears made it all the way to the NCAA championship game that year.

The injury helped Hawari see volleyball in a new light, and it made her thankful for the time she had on the court. She now balanced her competitive drive with a sense of humility and appreciation.

“I think it was good for me because it made me appreciative of every single day of volleyball I have and every second on the court,” Hawari says.

The following season, Hawari took off the brace but never forgot the lessons learnt from it.

Now a veteran on the Cal volleyball team, Hawari kept the lessons in mind by constantly remembering her time is running out. She is thinking beyond herself — she has been heavily involved in the developments of her younger teammates.

As many of Hawari’s veteran teammates were out injured at the beginning of the season, the redshirt senior embraced the role of transitioning the five new freshmen players into the team dynamics.

“In past years there were so many talented players that always performed well,” Hawari says. “This year we’ve had to work harder for that. I think it’s going to be a good learning experience for us ultimately.”

Hawari acted as a bridge between coaches and the players, facilitating communication between the two.

“She breaks down everything and calls the team together if we’re struggling,” Cal coach Rich Feller said. “She’s kind of another coach and always asks what more she can do to improve her own game.”

When the Bears lost an agonizing game to Washington at home on Nov. 7, Hawari bolstered the squad even when her teammates wanted to fall down. Right after Cal lost in the fifth set, Hawari gathered the Bears in a huddle.

“I said I was proud of us for fighting so hard,” Hawari says. “Whether or not it’s a win, I want them to know we’re going in the right direction.”

Now with just one more game left in the regular season against No. 2 Stanford on Friday, Hawari has one last opportunity to help her Bears receive an NCAA tournament bid.

With the real possibility of Friday being her last game with Cal, Hawari has been reflecting back on her five-year stint.

“I’ve never been disappointed in any of my seasons here,” Hawari says. “Even if it’s not the ideal situation we work with what we have and stay together.”

Despite the Bears falling from a championship-caliber team to a team fighting for a postseason in two years, Hawari feels no anger or pain.

She’s just thankful she is playing on her two feet, jumping higher than ever for that perfect kill.

Andrew Davis covers volleyball. Contact him at wdavis@dailycal.org

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The squad will end the season against No. 1 Stanford on Nov. 23, a game in which Cal will be the underdog. On Monday at 8 p.m. in Haas Pavillion, Cal (14-14, 8-10) plays Utah — the second worst place team in the Pac-12 — in the former’s penultimate game.

While an inferior Utah (13-18, 4-14) provides the best chance for the Bears to get the 15th victory, a win is much easier said than done.

“Their record is very misleading,” coach Rich Feller said. “This is a team that would normally be winning their conference if they weren’t in the Pac-12.”

The Utes are currently in the midst of a 1-5 slide in the Pac-12, but three of the games were against top-five teams in the conference. Although the Utes were defeated, the team won at least one set in all of the contests.

Against No. 5 UCLA and No. 6 Washington amidst the slump, Utah pushed them to the brink, losing both matches in five sets, 3-2.

“They sound a lot like us, almost winning in five sets and just missing out on huge wins,” Feller said.

The Utes’ similarity with the Bears extends past disappointing losses. Both squads have excelled at blocking this year with help from their impressive middle blockers.

Cal sits fourth in the Pac-12 with an average of 2.88 blocks per set lead by senior Kat Brown, who is now six short of the all-time Cal record held by Ellen Orchard with 504 in her career.

Utah ranks second in the Pac-12 with 3 blocks per set. Sophomore Bailey Bateman’s has been a stone wall on the front line, posting an impressive 1.57 blocks per set.

“They are one of the best blocking teams in the conference,” Feller said. “That is going to provide a tremendous challenge for us.”

Defensively, Cal and Utah’s success stems from the ability to block.

Offensively, the teams couldn’t be more different.

The Utes run a two-setter offense, much like Arizona — a team Cal has swept this year. Despite the fact that the Bears have already faced a two-setter offense, Utah still remains a mystery in the first season meeting between the teams.

“It’s strange that we don’t see this team all year and then you see them one time,” Feller said.

Going into the matchup with Utah, Cal is trying to recover from a disappointing five-set loss at the hands of the No. 8 USC.

“I said the same thing after USC did after Washington, we let an opportunity slip away,” Feller said.

Considering the situation, the Bears cannot let the game slip away. In years past, a game against the Utes at this point would be used to further impress the selection committee.

Not this season. Cal is playing to stay alive.

“Unlike other years where dropping a few matches at the end will affect our seeding, we still knew we are going to get into the tournament,” Feller said. “This year, it’s different.”

Austin Crochetiere covers volleyball. Contact him at acrochetiere@dailycal.org

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The Bruins (21-5,13-4) swept the Bears at the Wooden Center in Los Angeles Thursday night, giving the latter their 14th sweep of the season.

Although the Bears (14-14, 8-10 in Pac-12) notched a solid .299 hitting percentage for the night, the Bruins’ own remarkable .537 was the highest percentage the Bruins have hit in at least a decade.

To put things in perspective, prior to the Cal match, the Bruins’ hitting percentage was .299 — the fourth-best in the nation.

“We did not serve enough early and that gave them rhythm,” Cal coach Rich Feller said. “When they’re hitting like that, there’s not much you can do.”

In the first set, the home team got off to a strong 3-2 lead. Paced primarily by outside hitters Rachael Kidder and Tabi Love, UCLA then carried its lead all the way up to 11-5.

The Bears called a timeout, but before they could find their footing, Cal’s opponent had quickly extended the lead to 17-9.

“(Love) was hitting high and over and around our blocks,” Gehan said. “We weren’t able to dig the balls we should have.”

Love wrecked all hopes for Cal, raking in six kills the first set. UCLA ultimately won the set, 25-16.

“I think we had a little bit of nerves going into the first game,” junior outside hitter Adrienne Gehan said. “We did not do a good job of making adjustments on the block, and the mentality of our defense was missing.”

Cal’s two largest leads were 8-5 and 13-10 in the second set. But Love racked another one to help the Bruins tie the game at eight.

The second set kept swinging back and forth. UCLA scored three in a row to tie the game at 13. Then an out-of-bounds error by sophomore outside hitter Christina Higgins tied the game at 18.

Although Cal had a chance to take the lead, the Bruins promptly scored three straight and finally took the second set, 25-22.

“UCLA pushed harder than we did,” Feller said. “We got tentative when we were close or tied in points.”

The Bruins started the third set with a 10-7 lead. Freshman setter Becca Strehlow’s passing helped Love and middle blocker Zoe Nightingale score two kills apiece, pushing a 7-1 Bruin run.

“(UCLA) certainly did not let its guard down (in the third set),” Feller said. “There was some good volleyball by us but more by them.”

A Cal serving error into the net gave UCLA the extra momentum it needed to finish out the game. The Bruins had taken the last set 25-18 and won the game in just 78 minutes.  The Bears now go on to play No. 8 USC on its home court Friday at 7 p.m.

“We have to decide what we’re all about and play like we have nothing to lose,” Feller said of the impending matchup.

Andrew Davis covers volleyball. wdavis@dailycal.org

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Following the battle with the  Huskies, Brown’s expression said it all. She would not let Cal (14-12, 8-8) lay an egg against last-place Washington State (12-16, 2-14) on Thursday night at Haas Pavilion.

She didn’t disappoint.

The senior middle blocker set a new career high in blocks with 12. Brown’s performance not only left her 12 blocks short of the all-time Cal career record — it propelled the Bears to the 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-18, 25-23) victory over the Cougars.

“I was really upset after we lost Wednesday night,” Brown said. “I came in knowing we had to win.”

Brown had a strong first frame, leading the team with four kills while also contributing on three block attempts.

Despite Brown’s play, the first set was won primarily on the fact that Washington State shot itself in the foot and committed eight errors.

At 8-7, Cal went on a 4-0 run with every point coming off an attack error by a Cougar. Brown played a role in intimidating the Cougar offense en route to a 25-18 set win.

The Cougars began the second set with a 9-3 run, leaving the Bears stunned.

Slowly, the Bears clawed their way back into contention, pulling within one at 21-20. The Bears were able to survive one set point, only to fall, 25-23, on their own serve and thus head into the break tied 1-1.

“We dropped the second set because they outworked us,” Feller said. “We shouldn’t have dropped that set.”

To begin the third set, Cal decided to work the left side, feeding sophomore Christina Higgins multiple opportunities. Higgins cashed in on four attempts in the first 13 points.

At 14-13, the squads embarked on a rally that lasted for more than a minute. As both teams tried to get that last kill, the players struggled to put any velocity behind the ball after a minute of running and diving. Finally, Hawari put an end to the point with a well-placed shot.

“You have a long, hard rally like that, winning it is big emotional lift and momentum shift,” Feller said.

Following the physically draining point, Cal launched a 10-5 run to win the set, 25-18.

At the outset of the fourth frame, Washington State proved it was not going to just submit. By the 18th point, the teams were tied, 9-9.

“We need to respect that each team in the Pac-12 will fight tooth and nail, even if they don’t have a number in front of their name,” Feller said.

By the time the score read 20-16 in favor of the Bears, the squad looked poised to finally seal the deal. Cal won the 21st point, and the athlete who sealed it was none other than Brown, who recorded her final block of the night.

Although it took four tries at set point, Cal eventually won the frame, 25-23 — and with it the match.

Brown, on the best night of her career, was all smiles after.

Austin Crochetiere covers volleyball. Contact him at acrochetiere@dailycal.org

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Having already fought of a previous match point, the Bears had a dwindling chance of pulling off their second upset of a top-ranked opponent.

Washington delivered a shot in the final rally that appeared to go just long, sending the crowd into a frenzy. However, amongst the chaos, the referee made the signal that quickly turned the euphoria into stunned silence.

Cal had deflected the ball. Washington won.

Cal (13-12, 7-8) and No. 5 Washington (20-4, 11-4) engaged in a battle on Wednesday night, but it was the Bears who were left with an empty feeling after falling, 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 16-25, 28-26, 17-15) in the emotional five-set thriller.

“It was disappointing that we came so close, but far from heartbreaking,” coach Riche Feller said. “We just have to keep our heads up and understand that tonight was the best we played all year.”

In the first set, the Huskies jumped out to a quick 8-3 advantage after Cal freshman Nikki Gombar hesitated on a Husky serve, deciding to hit it at the last second.

The teams traded kills following the quick Husky start, as each offense tried to prove its superiority with each new shot.

Middle hitter Shannon Hawari recorded six powerful strikes in the set, single-handedly keeping the Bears close. Washington began to anticipate Hawari receiving the ball, but the squad still couldn’t stop the senior.

Hawari was on an entirely different level than the rest of Cal, recording a stellar .750 hit percentage.

“Shannon is a beast right now,” Feller said. “If anybody watches that match, they will see a first team All-American.”

While Shannon excelled, her team lagged. A team hitting percentage of just .229 in the first set doomed the Bears, who eventually fell, 25-22.

In the second frame, both teams were evenly matched. Eventually, Cal would prevail 25-22 giving the squad momentum going into the break.

In the third set, Cal built a four point lead by the 16-12 mark. At that point, frustration began to set in for the Huskies. A serving error by outside hitter Krista Vansant prompted the sophomore to smack the ball between her legs away from the net.

Washington head coach Jim McLaughlin watched as his team continued to squander opportunities. Cal steamrolled to a 25-16 set victory, converting on more than half their kill attempts in the set.

After recording one block across the second and third sets, the Huskies began with middle blocker Amanda Gil on the bench to begin the fourth.

At 18-21, Feller made a change of his own, bringing in freshman Lara Vukasovic who had yet to play a point. With size in the front three, Cal subsequently went on to take the next two points, one coming off a joint block from Vukasovic and senior Kat Brown.

“Both of us were trying to use our bench anyway we could,” Feller said. “It was a chess match even if [McLaughlin] had more people to use.”

In a thrilling finish to the set that involved an a Cal match point, the Huskies emerged victorious, 28-26.

In the fifth and final set, Washington set the tone by taking the first two points. Cal’s response was a 5-1 run fueled by two kills from senior Corey Johnson.

At 11-11, the nervous excitement was palpable in Haas Pavilion. Six points later, the score remained tied at 14-14.

The match was coming down to the wire.

Finally, Washington prevailed on the final kill. A shocked Haas Pavilion watched as the Huskies mobbed the floor.

“We got tentative in the last set,” Feller said. “We made six uncharacteristic hitting errors. Six in a fifteen-point game is significant.”

Cal now has to refocus for Thursday’s tilt against Washington State. But following the intense and heart-rending match against the Huskies, it will be hard for Cal to forget Wednesday night’s outcome.

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Despite its top-10 ranking, the Huskies can attribute their success to their home advantage. Of its four conference losses, three came away from home.

And with the return of veteran outside hitter junior Adrienne Gehan from injury, the Bears come into Wednesday’s game at 7 p.m. with some much needed depth.

“Adrienne gives us the ability to substitute.” head coach Rich Feller said. “We can change things up whether its front row or back row; we can spread the offense around.”

With Gehan back in the starting rotation, Feller can substitute freshmen outside hitters Lara Vukasovic and Nikki Gombar to throw off the opponent’s defense.

Gehan’s effect shined through last weekend when the unranked Bears went up north to topple No. 2 Oregon in five sets. If the Bears can play dominant — recording a whopping 36 percent in kills — like they did against the Ducks, then the Huskies are in for a treat.

Not only does Gehan provide some much needed experience for a young squad like Cal, she also puts up big numbers. Coming back from injury, the veteran racked 15 kills, seven digs, and four blocks against the second best team in the nation.

And after Monday’s film session on Washington, the Bears felt confident they could avenge their previous 3-0 loss to the Huskies.

“It looks like they really have not changed that much, but I feel like we as a team have made progress since then,” said senior middle hitter Shannon Hawari.

On Oct. 21 at Seattle, Washington’s pair of outside hitters in sophomores Krista Vanstant and Nelson Kaleigh dominated the Bears with 21 kills combined. Kaleigh was a nightmare to defend for the Bears with her .429 scoring percentage that game.

For Cal, this killer offense will be hard to stop on Wednesday, particularly because Washington plays with three hitters up front.

“That (three hitter offense) is hard to defend because although we have three blockers, they know what they’re doing and we’re just trying to guess,” Feller said. “With three hitters, it’s much tougher to (put up a clean block).”

It is no surprise that the Huskies are second in the Pac-12 with a .272 hitting percentage per set. And with a majority of its front line standing well over six feet tall, it is also no surprise that Washington is first in blocks per set with 3.44.

However, the Huskies are likely tired after their close win against Utah on Sunday. Trailing 0-2, Washington had to win three consecutive games to take the win against the unranked Utes. Although Cal also played on Sunday, the Bears had an easier tilt against Oregon State.

While a win against unranked Oregon State edges the Bears one step closer to an NCAA tournament bid, an upset win against top-10 Washington would do wonders for Feller’s up and coming squad.

“A win would give us another injection of confidence finishing off the Pac-12,” Feller said.   

Andrew Davis covers volleyball. wdavis@dailycal.org

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The Bears had just dropped the third set, 26-24, and were tied with the Beavers, 15-15. Cal needed someone to step up.

Senior Shannon Hawari was that leader.

Behind two powerful kills and two stuff blocks from Hawari, the Bears scored six straight points en route to winning the set, 25-20.

Finally the Bears (13-11, 7-7) had emerged from a Pac-12 weekend of play with two wins with the 3-1 victory (25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 25-20).

“It was great for our confidence, especially with the tournament and the possibility of going there,” junior Adrienne Gehan said. “Coming off such a big win there was still pressure to play well and take care of another team.”

On Friday down the I-5 freeway in Eugene, Ore., the Bears recorded by far the most important win of their season, upsetting No. 2 Oregon 3-2.

The intense five-set affair left the Bears drained going into their matchup with the Beavers.

When the game against Oregon State began, Cal fell victim to a hangover. The squad came out slow, finding itself down 3-0 before it even blinked.

“For the most part, the Oregon State match was a slowly played match,” coach Rich Feller said. “Both teams were lethargic and there was no excuse for that. There were players that had impressive games Friday that didn’t show up Sunday.”

The Bears finally awoke from their stupor and tied the match at 6-6. Then, with the score at 20-17, freshman Nikki Gobar delivered four straight points off her serve to set up the 25-21 set victory.

The second set did not provide as much excitement, as the Bears cruised to a 25-19 victory. Cal seemed to be over its sluggish start and well on its way to finishing the weekend strong.

But then the third set left the Bears floundering for an answer.

The Beavers raced to a 18-12 edge, taking advantage of Cal’s ineffective passing.

Hawari, who normally relinquishes her serving duties to teammates, stepped in to try and calm things down. Four aces from the senior helped Cal to a 7-0 run to give the squad a 19-18 lead.

“We served really well today,” Gehan said. “It got Oregon State out of system and made them uncomfortable.”

At 24-24 in the third set, Oregon State was able to string together a block and a kill to cut into the Cal advantage.

In the fourth set, Cal knew it needed to squash the Oregon State momentum so they could escape Corvalis with the win.

At 15-15, Hawari came through with the blocks and kills to give Cal the 21-15 advantage. Then another senior, Correy Johnson, was able to cap the frame with back-to-back kills.

“Today was an absolutely must-win,” Feller said. “We let them in the door a little bit, but I have to give credit to our team for sticking with it and taking care of it in the fourth set.”

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