Cal wins first match of the season against San Diego State. 25-21, 26-28, 25-12 and 25-22
That's good.
I was not able to watch the game - but checked the boxscore while it was in progress.
But the not so good:
Cal hit a woeful 085 for the match. San Diego State was not good but a bit better at 102. But SDSU had 15 service errors to Cal's 5. Cal also had 11 service aces to SDSU's 1. I don't know if those were the difference, but they seem to be.
DeJardin and newcomer Carbonara were the leading attackers but Dejardin hit 186 on 43 attacks and Carbonara hit 049 on 42 attacks.

Next up is USF on Sunday.

Recap https://calbears.com/news/2025/8/29/volleyball-sharp-serving-bears-knock-off-san-diego-state-3-1.aspx

Sawyer Thomsen, middle, hurt her ankle during the first set and did not return which did not help.

I watched three quarters and agree that two "kill" threats emerged in Carbonara & DeJardin. Six members of the roster did not see action. I was hoping for the debuts of Agolli and Stirbu. Does anyone know their status with the team? I feel that the Bears will have difficulty with tall teams because their two offensive scoring threats both stand only 6-1. Cal led the entire second set but gave up the lead at the end and lost. I was impressed how the team rallied in the 3rd period and dominated. GO BEARS!

Agolli was wearing a knee brace. I assume they want to give Natalie the rep for now. Thought Natalie setting was okay.. lots of timing issues but remember the first game only.

Kind of surprise today's game usf vs sdsu & tmrrw Cal vs USF. Couldn't they just made it a 2 day tourney instead of spreading a single match over 3 days?

Cal won an entire set of points on serves alone (11 aces and 15 errors). If I'm the SDSU coach I'm screaming some profanities after that match. Yikes.

Tight first set with USF but then Cal coasts through next two and wins 3-0. 29-27, 25-16 and 25-16
Cal hit so much better than in first match. 252 for the match.

Carbonara with 29 attacks and 10 kills - but only 172
Hayden starred with 24 attacks, 12 kills and hitting 417
Dejardin with 19 attacks, 6 kills including final match point for Cal and hitting 211
Iowa transfer Phills got 17 attacks 8 kills and hit 353

Only 7 service aces today.
Agolli and Scott both played so that's a good sign!

Next weekend, Bears hit the road to Lincoln, Nebraska and the road may hit back.
Wright State (2-1) on Saturday
and Nebraska on Sunday.

OOF. Was not able to follow in real time, but Cal wins first two sets and then loses the last three to get reverse swept by Wright State.
Set by set, Cal hit 276, 304, 108, 053 and Negative 059.

Frosh Arissa Carbonara was the top scorer recently at home, but today on the road, was only the fifth leading scorer for the Bear's offense.

Fyi.

Wright State was 24-7 last season with wins over Ohio State and #20 Miami.

Wright State also returned key players. I dont think it is a bad loss in the abstract, but it does suggest Cal has issues with its attacks and no lead is safe.

Being swept by Nebraska at Nebraska is not unexpected - but, still, based on the scores, it does not appear Cal put up much of a fight - 15 - 18 - 12 and Cal never led at any point. Next up Vanderbilt at Haas. Go Bears!

I missed a heck of a match last night between Cal and Vanderbilt. Emblematic of "The Bear Does Not Quit. The Bear Does Not Die" Cal gets the reverse sweep with an extended fifth set. Looks like Carbonara didn't play - I presume injury?
https://calbears.com/news/2025/9/10/volleyball-cal-downs-vanderbilt-in-late-night-reverse-sweep.aspx

I was following online until they were down 0-2. I went back later to see why the final results had not been posted yet. That's when I saw that the Bears were closing in on a win set 4 for the tie 2-2. Set 5 showed me what these Bears are made of with their tenacity. This outcome may turn their season around going forward.

Go Bears!!

So far, CAL is being outdone by CalPoly. I don't know about this year…

Cal Poly was 22-9 last season. 4-3 this season.

Swept Arkansas on the road.

Bears need to stop making so many service errors!?! Each time they call a timeout you only see the coaches talking to each other NOT to the players ??

The team was devastated by Cal's reaction to Covid. And Crosson couldn't respond. Malcolm may have had to start fresh with only a few pieces - and the team may be more competitive than Crosson's last two years - but se Malcolm has to show results (NCAA invite) by next year.

Side note: Just looked up at how Maggie Li is doing at UCLA - UCLA is 3-3 and has not had a home game. Li is hitting 148. I don't know if she is injured but something is up because she has not played full sets in the the last three matches. including a one set appearance in UCLA win over UTEP in which she had one attack.

Geez, losing to San Jose State?????

> Geez, losing to San Jose State?????

tanstaafl..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_such_thing_as_a_free_lunch
> The phrase and the acronym are central to Robert A. Heinlein's 1966 science-fiction novel The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which helped popularize it.

Swept by San Jose State!

Ugh!

What's the problem ? Coaching, Players, both, or some thing else?

Far cry from the glory days of Jerkov, Pressey, Cutura, Lloyd, Murray, etc

since this is a stealth volleyball thread, guess sharing an otherwise OT blue sky post should be oh-kay, coming from a favorite SF writer's pre-release book tour..
https://bsky.app/profile/scalzi.com/post/3lz4yvyiesk2f
> John Scalzi @scalzi.com The University of Washington Women's Volleyball team is here at the gate about to board a plane I have never felt more Hobbit-sized in my life

Watching us against UVA right now. Up one set and up 21-13 in 2nd. We look much improved from early in the season

Virginia took Stanford to 4 sets also (winning the third just like today against the Bears).

Maybe this team is finally starting to gel with all the new players now acquainted with each other.

2-0 in ACC!

Cal impressive in sweeping road trip against VT (3-0) & UV (3-1) this weekend! GO BEARS!

SFCALBear72 said:

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Virginia took Stanford to 4 sets also (winning the third just like today against the Bears).

Maybe this team is finally starting to gel with all the new players now acquainted with each other.

2-0 in ACC!

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My best friend from childhood is a shrink in Victoria, TX and he and his wife know Carbonelli and her family. They say she's a great kid.

juarezbear said:

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SFCALBear72 said:

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Virginia took Stanford to 4 sets also (winning the third just like today against the Bears).

Maybe this team is finally starting to gel with all the new players now acquainted with each other.

2-0 in ACC!

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My best friend from childhood is a shrink in Victoria, TX and he and his wife know Carbonelli and her family. They say she's a great kid.

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I think you are referring to freshman Arissa Carbonara from Cuero Texas.