SanseiBear said:
LodeBear said:
cal is not a very good team. it can beat poor teams, but stronger teams no. at least not yet. maybe one of these days.
The off-season should be interesting. Of the 5 seniors, 3 have playing eligibility left so will 1 or 2 come back next season? How will the 2 frosh players and the Syracuse transfer who did not play at all fit into the play rotation? The middle position should be solid with Scott returning to join Hayden and Thomsen. Then, we'll have the 3 incoming frosh players (OH, Opposite, and DS) joining the team.
Will Maeder return to join Lau in the setter position? Will frosh Agolli who played both setter and OH in high school compete for this position? Or does Cal go to the portal for an underclassman setter since Lau and Maeder, if she returns, will no longer have eligibility after 2025?
These are just my uneducated opinions. Have a great Holiday Season!
Hope everyone is doing well - if anyone is in or has family/friends in Southern California, I hope everyone is safe
The off-season has begun, but I am personally excited about the future of Cal volleyball. Coach Malcolm is the third coach in two years. That much of a change is going to hurt a programs success but having her and the rest of the staff back is a huge piece to rebuilding Cals volleyball culture. The latter half of last season showed glimpses
It does not seem that any of the seniors will be returning. Mehrten and Maeder are both in the transfer portal currently. Rumor has it that Maeder will be grad transferring after completing her degree in the spring. That is not confirmed, but has been circulating
2025 roster (not-official):
With the new roster size rules, Cal still has 3 open spots on the 2025 roster. Transfer portal entry is closed until small window in May. Players in the portal will need to be signed by the start of spring classes (does not include grad transfers), so there could additional incoming transfers in the next 2 weeks. Grad transfers can also enter the portal upon graduation in the spring
Grace Agolli - RS FR - OPP/S
Cherlin Antonio - SR - OPP
Arissa Carbonara - FR - OH
Peyton Dejardin - SR - OH
Mikayla Hayden - SR - MB
Sophia Johnson - JR - DS/L
Natalie Lau - SR - S
Ashley Li - JR - OH
Annemarie O'Gara - FR - OPP
Dominique Phills - SOPH - OH
Francesa Popescu - FR - DS/L
Sophia Scott - RS JR - MB
Sawyer Thomsen - JR - MB
Sofia Williams - SOPH - DS/L
Ashleigh Woodruff - JR - MB
Setter and OH / OPP seem to be the biggest questions in terms of personal. Curious to see how Scott and Agolli comeback from injury.
Returning players:
- Hayden and Thomsen are both back at MB, Sophie Scott who missed 2024 with an ACL injury should be returning. MB looks to be the strongest position for 2025 season.
- Would expect Sophia Johnson to move into the L spot. Sophia Williams is the other returning DS. I was impressed with Bartalo and Johnson last year, it seems Coach Sato has been very beneficial in that area.
- Lau will be back - her connections with her hitters were very inconsistent but were much improved as the year went on.
- Dejardin is the only returning OH / OPP with significant sets played (as a Golden Bear).
- Can everyone stay healthy? Agolli, Scott coming back from knee surgeries. Hayden missed time in 2024 due to illness
Incoming Players:
Cal recently signed two transfers from the transfer portal (Dominique Phills, OH from Iowa and Ashleigh Woodruff, MB from Stony Brook). From videos and stats, I am excited about Phills. She seems very athletic, has a live arm, hits a heavy ball. Havent seen much defensively on her so no comment on that. Not all the much information on Woodruff from Stony Brook. Has her listed as a 6'3" MB but has limited stats or videos that I could find
Francesca Popescu (DS/L), Arissa Carbonara (OH), and Annemarie O'Gara (OPP) will be incoming freshman
The loss of M Li hurts from an offensive prospective. I would like to see the addition of a setter and OH to add firepower to the offense. That would leave 1 roster spot open
Rumors, not confirmed:
Audrey Pak, S (UCLA)?
Still a lot of time before the season but Im certainly excited about the future. Im no expert however, just a fan of Cal volleyball - please feel free to call me out, any thoughts, opinions
Go Bears!
