University Southern California Trojans
USC
*California
Volleyball Gets Past Bears, 3-1
November 04, 2004 | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 4, 2004
BERKELEY, Calif. - Junior Staci Venski posted a career-high 18 kills and senior Keao Burdine added a career-best 19 digs as the No. 4-ranked USC women's volleyball team defeated No. 11 California, 3-1 (30-24, 31-33, 30-25, 30-24), on Thursday night in Berkeley. With the win, the Women of Troy improved to 15-3 overall and 10-2 in the Pac-10, while the Bears fell to 12-8 overall and 7-4 in conference play.
The two-hour contest proved to be a hard-fought battle between these two highly-ranked teams. USC's victory evened the season series between the two teams after having fallen to Cal in the first match-up in Los Angeles.
Burdine, who set a career-mark in passing, also led both teams with 19 kills for her 10th double-double this season. Venski's offense produced a match-leading .484 attack percentage to go along with four blocks. The two players accounted for 20 points apiece.
Middle blocker Emily Adams, who added 16 kills of her own, led with eight blocks and 23.5 total points. The senior co-captain also tied her career-high with three service aces.
Libero Debora Seilhamer contributed a match-best 22 digs. Setters Alli Dillon and Kimi Freeburg tallied 36 and 29 assists, respectively.
After taking game one 30-24, the Women of Troy found themselves at a nine-point deficit, 21-12, late in game two. Using a 4-0 run following a timeout, USC attempted a steep climb to get back in the game. The Trojans managed to tie the game at 28-28 but were never able to gain the advantage. The Women of Troy held Cal at match point four times but two errors eventually cost them the game, 33-31.
Despite the loss, the Women of Troy bounced back after the break and captured games three and four, 30-25 and 30-24.
USC and Cal posted comparable statistics in digs (86 to 89) and blocks (11.0 to 9.0). The Women of Troy hit at a .275 clip with 80 kills, while holding the Bears to a .196 effort and 62 kills. But USC's performance at the service line may have been the most costly at times during the match. The Trojans compiled a season-high 14 errors and had six aces. Cal had three services errors and four aces.
Up next, the Women of Troy travel across the Bay to face No. 12 Stanford on Friday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m.
