Cal Opens Home ACC Play Against Wake Forest, NC State

Xuemeng (Maggie) Li has led Cal in kills in all but two matches this season.

VB10/2/2024 4:46 PM | By: Cal Athletics

Bears Look To Get Back On Track At Haas Pavilion

BERKELEY – California volleyball will welcome a pair of ACC opponents this weekend to start off a four-match homestand, hosting Wake Forest Friday evening and NC State on Sunday afternoon. This will be the first time in program history that the Golden Bears (8-6, 0-2 ACC) have matched up with either team. Both matches will be broadcast on ACCNX.
 
Last weekend, Cal lost to No. 5 Louisville in three sets and Notre Dame in four on the road. The Bears became Louisville’s first unranked opponent of the season to hold the Cardinals to under .200 hitting, while sophomore Sophia Johnson tied her career best with four service aces against the Fighting Irish.
 
Vs. Wake Forest (9-4, 1-1)
Last Meeting: None
All-Time Record: 0-0
 
The Demon Deacons finished ninth in the ACC last year but have gotten off to a very competitive start in 2024, with three of their four losses going to five sets. Much of their success has been due to their defense, which has held opponents to a combined hitting percentage of .155 (25th NCAA) and averages 2.61 blocks per set (36th NCAA). Leading the way at the net is senior middle blocker Tina Grkovic, who ranks 12th in the nation with 71 total blocks on the year and 41st with 1.31 blocks per set. On the offensive side of the ball, junior outside hitter Paige Crawford leads the team in both kills (133, 2.51 per set) and service aces (22, 0.42 per set).
 
Vs. NC State (7-3, 2-0)
Last Meeting: None
All-Time Record: 0-0
 
The Wolfpack, which finished fifth in the ACC in 2023, swept Virginia Tech and beat Virginia 3-1 last weekend to open conference play. As a team, they excel both defensively (15.22 digs per set) and at the service line (1.81 aces per set), ranking second and fourth, respectively, among all ACC teams. Graduate libero Skye Stokes leads the team in both categories with 143 digs (3.97 per set – 7th ACC) and 15 service aces (0.42 per set – 7th ACC), recording a combined 32 digs in the past two matches alone.
 
LI LEADS
Sophomore outside hitter Xuemeng (Maggie) Li looks to take another step forward in her second year, following a sensational rookie season in…