California Golden Bears women’s volleyball will travel east for their third weekend of ACC play, facing Syracuse on Friday and Boston College on Sunday. Both matches are scheduled to be streamed on ACCNX.
Last week, the team lost to No. 6 Louisville and Notre Dame at home, bringing their season record to 5-9 overall and 2-2 in conference play. Freshman Maria Știrbu achieved her third double-double of the year against Louisville with 21 assists and 10 digs, leading the team in multiple categories during the match against Notre Dame. Senior Peyton DeJardin contributed eight kills with a .400 hitting percentage in the first set against Notre Dame, while redshirt freshman Grace Agolli recorded six kills off the bench.
The upcoming match at Syracuse marks the Orange’s first ACC home contest this season. Syracuse has added ten new players, including seven transfers. The team currently ranks among the top three in service aces per set and digs per set within the conference. Senior Gabby McLaughlin transferred from Nevada after earning All-Mountain West honors last year and is fifth in the ACC for kills per set. Another Nevada transfer, Tehya Maeva, averages over nine assists per set.
Boston College will host Cal for the first time ever after winning their only previous meeting last year in five sets. The Eagles average nearly two service aces per set but have struggled since entering conference play, ranking low in opponent hitting percentage, kills per set, and digs per set over recent weeks. Junior Audrey Ross leads Boston College offensively with an average of over three kills per set, while freshman Bella Ehrlich leads defensively at the net.
Cal Athletics will induct former player Hana Čutura into its Hall of Fame on October 18 as the eighth volleyball player to receive this honor from Cal. Čutura played from 2006-09 and is recognized as Cal’s only player to surpass 2,000 career kills.
For the first time in program history, Cal retired a jersey number when Carli Lloyd’s No. 1 was raised before their ACC home opener against Louisville on October 3. Lloyd finished her collegiate career with more than 5,600 assists and led Cal to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as well as two Final Four berths.
Sophia Johnson was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week on September 29 after averaging more than five digs per set during Cal’s opening weekend of conference play.
The Bears’ roster features four middle blockers this season: senior Mikayla Hayden (the team’s leading scorer), junior Sawyer Thomsen (who had a career-high block total last year), redshirt junior Sophie Scott (returning from injury), and newcomer Ashleigh Woodruff (a transfer from Stony Brook).
Senior setter Natalie Lau is joined by her sister Elise Lau—a freshman defensive specialist—making them one of only two pairs of sisters playing together on a Power 4 team this season. According to head coach Jen Malcom: “two of the most competitive players on our team.”
This season’s roster includes seven new players—five freshmen and two transfers—bringing national experience and accolades that add depth to multiple positions.
“two of the most competitive players on our team.” — Jen Malcom
For further updates about California Golden Bears women’s volleyball games or events, fans can follow @CalVolleyball across social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
