Maddy Kerr psyched about new-look Bears

With Cal opening Pac-12 play Tuesday at Maples Pavilion against rival Stanford — the No. 1 ranked team in the nation — the Golden Bears enter as an extreme underdog. They also enter with a lot to prove. On a roster of 19 players, eight are freshmen, while Kerr is one of four sophomores.

“We aren’t expected to do well just because we’re so young and new,” Kerr said. “I think we’re a little bit underrated, and I think we can definitely surprise some people. I know the talent is there. It’s completely obvious we have a lot of talented girls. It’s just whether we put it out there.”

Last year’s Cal team, which advanced to the postseason, was an entirely different makeup. The Bears were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle before graduating outside hitter Adrienne Gehan and setter Joan Caloiaro. After defeating North Carolina in the opening round of the playoffs — for head coach Rich Feller’s 600th career win — the Bears were eliminated by Wisconsin, a team which went on to reach the finals before falling to national champion Penn State.

“It was really fun winning a tournament game,” Kerr said. “That’s just something you dream about. It was tough seeing Wisconsin really early. We kind of got a bad draw with that one.”

Cal was contending with a slew of injuries heading into postseason play though. Kerr was among the afflicted. And during the offseason — while her father Steve was in the midst of being hired as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors — Kerr was resting an injured shoulder which cost her an opportunity to play in most of the games during Cal’s summer exhibition tour of Europe.

Kerr returned to full volleyball activities with the start of preseason double-days in August though. With her return, the new cast of characters surrounding her on the court has quickly impressed.

“It’s totally different. We’re super young, especially our outsides,” Kerr said. “It’s going really well. They’re getting better by the day. It’s nice to know I’m going to have them for the next three years and they’re just going to keep getting better.”

With newcomers Christine Alftin (Woodside) and Ashten Smith-Gooden emerging as two of the most promising freshmen outside hitters in the Pac-12, junior Christina Higgins still boasts the team’s most intimidating kill shot.

“We need her to do well,” Kerr said. “She’s a really crucial part of our offense. And we love getting her the ball.”

And Kerr said she’s happy Higgins is on her side. This much she’s learned from practicing against the prolific outside hitter.

“Digging her at practice is tough,” Kerr said. “It’s a little painful. It hurts sometimes.”

Kerr’s fellow sophomore Alyssa Jensen has been a godsend at the setter position. Replacing graduated Joan Caloiaro — the cousin of three-time Olympic beach volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings — Jensen has handled the transition as seamlessly as can be expected. She currently ranks fifth among Pac-12 setters with 10.73 assists per set.

“She had a year to watch and learn from all the best Pac-12 setters,” Kerr said. “Being a student of the game always helps. And she’d definitely risen to the challenge.”

If any one team is going to give Stanford a run for its money at the middle blocker position though — the Cardinal currently boast the two top shooting middles in the Pac-12 in Merete Lutz and Inky Ajanaku — Cal, between 6-3 junior Lillian Schonewise and 6-5 junior Lara Vukasovic, looks to be that worthy adversary.

Cal enters its Pac-12 opener with an 8-2 record while riding a three-game winning streak. And the Bears’ last preseason tune-up, a four-set win Friday at St. Mary’s, was their best match yet, according to Kerr.

“[It] kind of clicked and we all felt it,” Kerr said. “It was the first time we felt like we were all playing how we can play. I feel like it was all in our control and we can play against any team. … This week is big. We have Stanford and Washington in one week. So, we’re just going to play loose. We have nothing to lose against these teams. I think we know what we can do and if we do what we do well, we have a really good shot.”

And in many ways, the 5-7 Kerr personifies the guts and guile of this year’s Cal squad.

“We’re not the biggest team. We’re not really physical,” Kerr said. “So, we’re going to have to be really scrappy on defense and be really disciplined in blocking. We’re really trying to make that what we’re about more than anything. We’re definitely not there yet but we’re getting better. We’re kind of hoping that’s what defines us this year.”