Cal Carries 3-0 Record Into Matchups With No. 8 Purdue, Utah, Utah State
The California volleyball team takes to the road again this week after a successful opening weekend in Portland, where the Golden Bears went 3-0 at the Rose City Showdown. Cal swept Nevada and host Portland State while squeezing out a five-set victory over USF. The victories were the first in the head coaching career of new Cal head coach Jen Malcom.
Sophomore Maggie Li picked up where she left off last season, when she was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year – by putting down 49 kills in 11 sets for an ACC-best 4.45 average after the first weekend of the 2024 season. She was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week for her efforts.
Joining Li for a conference weekly honor was senior setter Annalea Maeder, who registered an ACC-best 122 sets over the weekend and was named the conference Setter of the Week for her efforts. Highlighting her performance was a 60-assist effort in the Bears’ five-set victory over USF.
Cal will easily face its toughest test of the young season in its first match this week against No. 8 Purdue, a perennial Big Ten and national power that had its highest ever preseason ranking this season (No. 8). The Boilermakers return six of seven starters that advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen last year, including 2023 All-Americans Eva Hudson, Chloe Chicoine and Raven Coleman.
After taking on Purdue in Salt Lake City on Thursday afternoon, the Bears will return to the Huntsman Center on Thursday evening to be reunited with former Pac-12 foe Utah, which has moved on to the Big 12 this season. The Bears wrap up their mountain swing on Friday when they visit Utah State.
The last time:
Cal defeated a top-25 team: Feb. 12, 2021 vs. No. 15 Stanford (3-2)
Cal defeated a top-10 team: Nov. 12, 2012 at No. 2 Oregon (3-2)
WECLOME TO THE ACC
The Bears wasted no time making their presence felt as new members of the ACC. For their performances in going 3-0 at the season-opening Rose City Showdown last week in Portland, sophomore Maggi eLi and senior Annalea Maeder were named ACC Offensive Plaser of the Week and ACC Setter of the Week, respectively. Li averaged 4.45 kills per set – tops in the conference through the initial week – while hitting for a .281 percentage. Her 24 kills in a five-set win over USF tied a career high. Maeder dished out a conference-high 122 assists in Portland, including 60 in…
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