The sixth-ranked Golden Bears swept Nebraska to reach their first final four.
TODD HENRICHS / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Saturday, December 8, 2007 6:00 pm
MADISON, Wis. — These weren’t jabs that the underdog Cal hitters were landing time after time against Nebraska’s usually rock-solid defense on Saturday.
These were howitzers coming from twin cannons. If it wasn’t Angie Pressey, the Golden Bears’ 5-foot-8 power plant overcoming the Husker block, it was 6-foot-3 Croat Hana Cutura knocking NU off its feet.
The end result, a 30-28, 31-29, 30-26 California victory in the Madison Regional final, was a blow to take your breath away. A Nebraska team that began the year amid unparalleled optimism, with five All-Americans in the lineup, with two past national players of the year on the court, became the 10th defending champion in 27 years to not return to the final four.
“We never put together a string of points, and we didn’t play very well at the end of close games,” said Nebraska head coach John Cook after another bitter defeat in the regional finals. “That’s what you’ve got to do when you get this far.
“When those left-side hitters are going off, our left-side hitters have to go off right back. We’re not used to that mentality.”
What worked out OK for second-ranked Nebraska on Friday night against No. 24 Michigan State didn’t fare as well against sixth-ranked California, a talented and battle-tested team from the Pacific-10 Conference.
Behind 23 kills from Cutura, the all-region MVP who hit .386, and 20 from Pressey, who hit .444, the Golden Bears advanced to their first final four in school history.
California (26-7) will face top-ranked Penn State in the national semifinals on Thursday in Sacramento, Calif., where two other Pac-10 teams will be a part of the party.
While that isn’t a surprise, it will be a shock to many that Nebraska (30-2) won’t be at the final four for the third straight year. And just as surprising is where the Huskers fell short on Saturday.
Blocking, floor defense and execution were the trademarks of Nebraska over the careers of this year’s talented senior class.
“It was breakdowns on our side of the net, just executing, whether it was a tough serve, a big swing or making a great dig and converting an opportunity,” Cook said. “It was happening last night, and it was happening again tonight.
“Whether that’s the pressure of our opponents, or us trying too hard, that’s the mystery of trying to be great.”
Reminiscent of Friday’s opening game against Michigan State, Nebraska was unable to corral California’s powerful left-side hitters in the early going. Cutura had eight quick kills, including the game one clincher, and Pressey added seven as the Golden Bears went with their strength.
Nebraska let a 25-24 lead disappear, hurt in large part by two rallies where the Huskers were guilty of poor decision-making. In game two, Nebraska again led late, this time 23-22, but couldn’t muster enough sideouts when it counted.
On Friday, Nebraska was able to rally to defeat Michigan State, dominating game three and winning the key points at the end of game four to take all of the momentum.
After that come-from-behind victory, Cook said that Nebraska would gain from the experience but cautioned that Saturday’s match would come down to winning games by close margins.
That’s something the Huskers don’t have to do regularly playing in the Big 12 Conference. In the Pac-10, it’s a way of life, Cal coach Rich Feller said.
“It’s got to help,” said Feller, noting all of the two-point games that the Golden Bears have played this season. “It just tempers them. They know that we can keep playing point by point.”
In game three, a Cutura kill put the Golden Bears in front 17-14 and the Huskers never completely recovered. Pressey’s kill clinched it, setting off a celebration that won’t end any time soon for the Golden Bears.
California, after having played in Durham, N.C., and Madison, Wis., on its Road to Sacramento, is now looking forward to a bus trip to the final four.
Pressey finished with 17 digs for Cal, which held NU to .240 hitting. The Golden Bears hit .323, the highest percentage against Nebraska outside of the Huskers’ loss at Texas earlier this season.
For Nebraska’s players, reality won’t set in for a bit. Instead of returning to the final four, it’s a different kind of finals’ week coming up.
Playing in her final match, senior All-American Sarah Pavan had 16 kills for Nebraska and surpassed 2,000 for her legendary career. Fellow senior Christina Houghtelling added 14 digs.
Pavan, who fought back tears at times, summed up the thoughts of NU’s team.
“This team has been my life … and just knowing that it’s over is just really hard to think about,” she said. “Looking back over these four years, I don’t think I could have come to a place with better people than Nebraska.
“It wasn’t supposed to go this way, but it did.”
Briefly
In addition to Cutura, all-tournament selections were Cal’s Pressey and setter Carli Lloyd, Nebraska’s Pavan and Tracy Stalls, and Michigan State’s Katie Johnson and Ashley Schatzle.
Reach Todd Henrichs at 473-7320 or thenrichs@journalstar.com.