Bears Hit The Road For Four More

Cal will finish off its long initial slate of away games with four matches this week.

BERKELEY – California volleyball has four more games on the road this week, first heading a short jaunt away to Moraga to face Saint Mary’s (Calif.) on Tuesday night before traveling to Boulder, Colorado, for the Buffs Invitational to conclude 2024 tournament play. All four contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Last week, Cal dropped its first two matches to No. 8 Purdue (1-3) and Utah (0-3) in Salt Lake City before rebounding with a 3-1 win against a strong Utah State team. Sophomore Xuemeng (Maggie) Li added to her ACC-leading kills total with 47 on the weekend, including a 23-kill (.375) performance against the Aggies, while junior setter Natalie Lau recorded a double-double (40 assists, 10 digs) in her first collegiate start – also against Utah State. Libero Gianna Bartalo also impressed with 52 digs across those three matches; she currently leads the conference with a 5.00 digs-per-set average and is second in total digs (110).
 
Vs. Saint Mary’s (Calif.) – Sept. 10, 7 p.m. PT
Last Meeting: Sept. 6, 2023 at Cal (W, 3-1)
All-Time Record: 23-3, Cal
 
The Gaels (0-3) have gotten off to a slow start this season but have proved that they are no slouches after taking then-No. 19 Arkansas to five sets in their opening weekend. Senior opposite Hannah Taylor notched 18 kills in that match and followed up with 12 (.435) the next day against Cal Poly; she currently leads the team with 42 on the year. The Bears will also have to keep an eye on outside hitter Genevieve Bane, a preseason All-WCC selection that ranks among her squad’s top-five players in all five major categories.
 
Vs. Wyoming – Sept. 13, 3 p.m. PT (Buffs Invitational)
Last Meeting: Sept. 28, 1984 at Cal (W, 3-2)
All-Time Series: 3-0
 
The Cowgirls (5-0) have kicked off their season in white-hot fashion and are currently riding an undefeated streak that includes a five-set victory over former Pac-12 foe Washington State. Two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week Sierra Grizzle, averaging 5.3 digs per set, leads a shutdown Wyoming squad that is among the nation’s stingiest with an average opponent hitting percentage of .137. Grizzle opened up her season with a 34-dig performance against the Cougars and has posted…