Third-Seeded Cal Falls To Top-Seeded UCLA
STANFORD – An incredible run for the third-seeded California beach volleyball team came to end Saturday, as the Golden Bears split a pair of matches at the Pac-12 Championship. Cal topped fourth-seeded Stanford 3-0 in the morning to advance to the tournament final for the first time, but fell to first-seeded UCLA 3-0.
Following the final match, Ainsley Radell, Ashley Delgado, Liz Waters-Leiga, and Sierra Caffo were named to the All-Tournament Team. This is the third-straight recognition for Radell and the second for Delgado.
No. 3 Cal 3, No. 4 Stanford 0
Championship Friday began with the fourth meeting of the season between the Bears and Cardinals. After falling to rival Stanford for the first time this season last weekend, Cal got its revenge and made quick work of the host team.
The even pairs took the sand first and both came up clutch for their team earning three-set wins. The court two pair of Radell and Delgado grabbed the first set of the dual 21-15, but the Cardinal forced the tiebreaker with a 21-16 win in set two. The court four team of senior Lexi McKeown and sophomore Ella Dreibholz fell 21-17 in the first frame and battled back to tie it with a 21-18 win in the second.
Just like yesterday’s win over USC, the two even pairs closed out their matches within a minute of each other. The 4’s earned a 15-8 win and the 2’s took it 15-11 to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.
DEJA VU!??
2s and 4s lock up the third set within a minute of each other to put us up 2-0!
2nd Flight underway on Pac-12 Networks
??https://t.co/yEzATksNjZ#GoBears | #Pac12BVB pic.twitter.com/ngux9fuvu3
— Cal Beach Volleyball (@CalBeachVB) April 28, 2023
On court one junior Liz Waters-Leiga and sophomore Sierra Caffo had a gritty, back-and-forth match, but emerged victorious 21-19, 22-20 to seal the dual.
MOVING ON!??
We’re headed to the Pac-12 Championship for the first time in program history! #GoBears | #Pac12BVB pic.twitter.com/4XcwFZMJ5C
— Cal Beach Volleyball (@CalBeachVB) April 28, 2023
1 Sierra Caffo and Liz Waters-Leiga (Cal) def. Xolani Hodel and Maddi Kriz (STAN ) 21-19 22-20
2 Ashley Delgado and Ainsley Radell (Cal) def. Charlie Ekstrom and Maya Harvey (STAN) 21-15 16-21 15-11
3 Kate Reilly and Emmy Sharp (STAN ) vs. Maya Gessner and Gia Fisher (Cal) 16-19
4 Lexi McKeown and Ella Dreibholz (Cal) def. Kelly Belardi and Ashley…
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