Cal has 13 service errors in 3 sets so far.

The end of fourth set. Sigh

CAL athletics needs to get serious.

Cal finally honors Lloyd and has a beatable opponent. Sigh. While team is playing better than last year, it just cant, yet, get over the hump. Hope they somehow beat SC, but progress will be keeping it close.

Cal up two sets to none over USC. But third set is different as Bears trail 14-9 with SC winning a challenge.

Not the Bears set. All that was going right is not. 22-14 SC

On to set four so we forget about third set

Cal out to early 9-5 Cal lead after exchange of service errors. Hayden with teo great plays.

SC calls time with Cal up 11-5!

SamT with an amazing dig/kill from the back followed by Hamm/Mehrten block and Cal leads 15-8!

Oops. SC scores 3 but then serves long. 17-11

Unfortunate SamT slips as bring set. 18-14

Deep breath Bears.
SamT with a needed kill. 20-16

Meader with another hard kill . Cal 23-18

And SC fumbles set and match point 24-18

Yikes. Three in a row and Cal calls time 24-21

Li with kill through block and Cal wins! First win over SC since 2014.

Roll on you Bears!

I'm a novice volleyball fan but I watched the 4th set. Tremendous improvement to defeat USC for the 1st time since 2014! I hate the Trojans. GO BEARS!

Yes, I just returned from match. Good and enthusiastic crowd. I can report there is no new camera position for volleyball, basketball or any other sport.

I'm glad the coaches went back to the single setter system, which allows Maeder to be an attacker when she's in the front row. I believe she did the 2-attack three times in today's match. Also, the single setter system allows DS Sophia Johnson more opportunity to play where she solidifies the back row's defense. In today's match, Maggie Li successfully tooled the USC block numerous times, which bodes well for her going forward.

It was an enjoyable match to watch today! GO BEARS!

The fans on the Volley Talk website are really happy for our Bears! Volley Talk

Haven't really followed the program since Rich Feller took it from nothing to national championship level. Not sure how it was allowed to regress from there. Still, congrats on the win.

berknolongerclaimusc82 said:

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Haven't really followed the program since Rich Feller took it from nothing to national championship level. Not sure how it was allowed to regress from there. Still, congrats on the win.

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Allowed? You might look at the Athletic Director. I sat with him last November (2022) and asked about volleyball and he said "Crosson is very nice man and I think he's a good coach but he has to win some games." and then Crosson went out and, for the second year in a row, didn't win a single conference match. And was not fired.
On paper, Crosson looked like a good hire - but the results were not there.

That said, the University/Conference did Crosson no favors with COVID. The season was cancelled, and so several of the top players transferred or, in the case of Mirkovic, decided to concentrate solely on Beach Volleyball. And then they did an abbreviated season, but it was too late to get those players back. But, before that, there was a bad sign in Crosson's first year (2019) when the team was rolling and then Mirkovic got injured and Crosson was unable to get any wins in her absence. She was a key and important player, but there were several other really good players that he should have been able to get a few wins. And so the team just missed the NCAA post-season.

Thank you for that breakdown ncbears. From my memory, program started to go downhill under Feller shortly after the NCAA Runner Up year (man that team was fun to watch. Greatest team in Cal women's volleyball history but I digress). It just didn't make any sense to me as to how it reached the level of needing a Penn State dynasty to beat it to going back to mediocre. Recruiting? Program investment? Very happy to hear your take on post-Feller hiring in terms of the current head coach.

berknolongerclaimusc82 said:

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Thank you for that breakdown ncbears. From my memory, program started to go downhill under Feller shortly after the NCAA Runner Up year (man that team was fun to watch. Greatest team in Cal women's volleyball history but I digress). It just didn't make any sense to me as to how it reached the level of needing a Penn State dynasty to beat it to going back to mediocre. Recruiting? Program investment? Very happy to hear your take on post-Feller hiring in terms of the current head coach.

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You are correct, berknolongerclaimusc82. Here's a chart I made 2 years ago.

SanseiBear said:

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berknolongerclaimusc82 said:

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Thank you for that breakdown ncbears. From my memory, program started to go downhill under Feller shortly after the NCAA Runner Up year (man that team was fun to watch. Greatest team in Cal women's volleyball history but I digress). It just didn't make any sense to me as to how it reached the level of needing a Penn State dynasty to beat it to going back to mediocre. Recruiting? Program investment? Very happy to hear your take on post-Feller hiring in terms of the current head coach.

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You are correct, berknolongerclaimusc82. Here's a chart I made 2 years ago.

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I don't think Maeder was the principal setter the last two years. Jensen was the primary setter although Maeder got time last year. The thing is that Carli Lloyd was a once in a generation player - and when she graduated. Feller couldn't fill the slot. Why he couldn't build on the successful years is a mystery.

Barrett was the best rated setter in her class... she was something like the 11th or 12th overall recruit in the country. I think most fans thought there would be zero lag after Lloyd.

However, she struggled badly at times. Strange season that was.... we still had Tarah (and a deep team)... but it just didn't pan out.

great win against USC. unfortunately i did not get to see game as i was fly fishing in the mountains with no internet. yes LLoyd was once in a lifetime player. Carter was a very good setter, but the conference had even better setters back then. Barrett was supposed to be good, but turned out not. Feller had to get joan caloiaro to take over. bay area college player I believe USF in san francisco from mitty. maeder has gotten alot better. she set most of last year with jensen, but was inconsistent. this year much better. the coaches have done a real good job and hopefully stay as permanent coaches. they really need another OH and opposite hitter and perhaps an aggressive MH to take over Hamm's position when she graduates.

LodeBear said:

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great win against USC. unfortunately i did not get to see game as i was fly fishing in the mountains with no internet. yes LLoyd was once in a lifetime player. Carter was a very good setter, but the conference had even better setters back then. Barrett was supposed to be good, but turned out not. Feller had to get joan caloiaro to take over. bay area college player I believe USF in san francisco from mitty. maeder has gotten alot better. she set most of last year with jensen, but was inconsistent. this year much better. the coaches have done a real good job and hopefully stay as permanent coaches. they really need another OH and opposite hitter and perhaps an aggressive MH to take over Hamm's position when she graduates.

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In the past we shouldn't blame the setter only. Like any sport its a team effort. Our defense, receiving, and digging have all been issues. Overall, we as a team have been inconsistent which included the OH positions.

sorry not really blaming the setters, but they are the QB in volleyball. they have to make decisions and make the sets. they are always handling the ball. defense, passing, blocking hitting they are also important as you stated. Maeder has improved her setting and decision making. the Defense is playing much better. passing is much better, keeping them in system or proper setting. having a player like Li is great. need one more like that

Yes I agree. We need more than just 1 additional player the caliber of M. Li. Before Li came on board it was a losing team. She joined that same group minus the previous best player Grote and only added with more medium level players. Cal needs more top recruits like all of the ones Stanford keeps getting year after year but as in WBB the top eschelon of players usually go to winning teams. We lucked out on Li. We're relying just on our current players getting better every year.

Cal Volleyball Beats Oregon State 3-2. Lost first and third sets but came back to win! GO BEARS

A thrilling Five Set win for Cal at OSU. 17-25, 25-11, 21-25, 25-21 and 15-13
When SamT went wide on a seemingly open attack to let OSU tie up the fifth at 13, I had that Cal sense of dread. But, Cal wins the Fifth 15-13.

Li with 19 kills and 17 digs - 245
SamT with 12 kills and 13 digs and 3 blocks - 106
Hayden hit 400 with 7 kills and 7 blocks
Merhten hit 130 but with 7 kills and 8 blocks

Morningstar and Scott both saw extensive time - with Scott especially strong in the fifth set and 5 blocks for the game.

What a credit to the players and the coaching staff for the continued turnaround. That's three conference wins.
Bears stay on the road to the Arizonas. Cal beat Arizona at Haas and lost in a five setter to ASU - so Go BEARS!

Stats