Gazette-Times

Junior Rachel Rourke had a near double-double with a team-high 11 kills and nine digs, but the Oregon State volleyball team lost in three to No. 7 California on Wednesday afternoon.

Set scores were 25-15, 25-21, 25-20.

“Cal’s a very good, physical team, particularly their hitting and blocking at the net,” coach Taras Liskevych said. “We had a game plan to go after Hana Cutura, and we were pretty successful. We got them in a little trouble with ball handling, but conversely on our side we didn’t pass well. We need to go after it on Friday and really play for our seniors.”

Sophomore Jill Sawatzky added seven kills and senior Ashley Evans had seven digs.

Oregon State took an early lead in the first set before Cal took the eventual lead of the set at 6-5. Five attack errors by the Beavers gave the Golden Bears a solid lead to take the 1-0 advantage.

The Beavers came back from being down by as many as six to tie the score at 18 in the second set. Oregon State took its last lead of the set behind freshman Betsy Devich’s first kill of the season to put the Beavers up 20-19. A kill by Ah-Hoy gave the Beavers one more point in the set, but the Golden Bears took a 2-0 lead going into the break.

Oregon State battled back again in the third set to within two after the Beavers reached 20. Three attack errors gave California the third set and the match.

California’s Cutura led the Golden Bears offense with 14 kills, while Kristen Kathan had 14 digs and Am’ra Solomon had six blocks.

Oregon State (14-16, 3-14) plays its last match of the season at home on Friday against No. 2 Stanford at 7 p.m.