The Bears head into the weekend with two exciting games to look forward to. The team of blue and gold will be battling Washington State and University of Washington. Both teams are sure to test Cal’s skill and grit. The Bears currently stand at a 7-5 record, plus a two-loss streak.
Fans hope Cal will be able to rid themselves of this heart-wrenching streak.
Lydia Grote is certain to give both teams a run for their money, as she currently leads the team with 179 kills. The same could be said for Tara DeSa with 207 digs and Sophie Scott with 60 blocks. Mikayla Hayden follows closely behind with 56 blocks and 75 kills this season.
On Friday Sept. 30 the Cougars will make their way up to Haas Pavilion where they will compete against the hungry Bears, in search of their first conference win. The Cougars stand at a solid 9-4 record. Having dominated programs like Duke, California Baptist and USC, the hibernating Bears will have to give the Cougars thier loudest roar if they hope to take home a victory.
Cougars that are sure to cause trouble for the Bears include 6’0 Outside Hitter Laura Jansen with 154 kills, 5’8 Libero Karly Basham with 139 digs and 6’3 Middle Blocker Magda Jehlarova with 58 blocks in this season so far.
With that said, a team of Bears will have to move as a single tight-knit unit in order to claim the victory over a red Washington State.
Having the home game advantage, fans can only hope their cheers and roars are enough to awaken the ferocious Bears ready to charge at a team of Cougars.
The following Sunday, the Bears will host the Huskies. With a remarkable 10-2 record so far this season, Washington is sure to be a fierce competitor making for an exciting game for both viewers and players. Having already conquered Washington State and UCLA, Washington has proven to be a notable competitor who is certain to test Cal’s limits.
6’2 Outside Hitter Claire Hoffman with 180 kills, 5’8 Libero Lauren Bays with 105 digs and 6’4 Middle Blocker Marin Grote with 44 blocks are Huskies that require careful attention, as they pose a huge threat.
Will an army of huskies be enough to take down the Bears? Will Cal be able to end its losing streak?
Having the home advantage again fans are expected to show out and be loud. Both matches will likely consist of back and forth scoring runs — likely to be a fast-paced game, fans can expect nail-biting plays.
The following Friday, Cal will face Utah: another limit-testing team.
