Nov. 9, 2002
BERKELEY, Calif. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Bolstered by the play of outside hitter Mia Jerkov, the University of California women's volleyball team (16-9, 6-9) upset No. 23 Arizona State (10-9, 6-8) Saturday night at Haas Pavilion. Game scores were 30-20, 30-26, 30-22 in favor of Cal.
It was also the third time this season the Bears have upset a team ranked in the Top 20 - topping then No. 20 ranked Arizona, 3-0, Oct. 12 in Tucson, then No. 17 ranked Washington State, 3-2, Oct. 18 in Haas Pavilion and now No. 23 ranked Arizona State. ASU had won nine straight matches against the Golden Bears in Berkeley. ASU has now lost five straight matches.
Jerkov, who had been nursing a sore left ankle that kept her out of four matches, was finally able to play a whole match and proceeded to lead the Bears with 20 kills and had an impressive .472 hitting percentage (20 kills, three errors, 36 attempts). Sophomore Camille Leffall added 10 kills, while junior setter Caity Noonan finished with 43 assists and a team-high 11 digs.
Senior middle blocker Julia Leddy (Mesa, Ariz.) led Arizona State with 14 kills. Junior outside hitter Juliana Escobar (Brasilia, Brazil) was limited to seven kills in the loss, but anchored the Sun Devil defense with 12 digs. Junior middle blocker Jodi Smith (St. Johns, Ariz.) led ASU with a match-high five total blocks. Cal out-hit ASU, .311 to .168.
ASU closes out its home schedule next weekend by hosting Oregon State (Nov. 15; 7 p.m.) and Oregon (Nov. 16; 7 p.m.) --Sun Devil Volleyball--