BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 9 California beach volleyball team experienced a mixed start to the Death Volley Invitational on Friday, securing a 3-2 victory over Boise State before falling to No. 6 Florida State with a final score of 4-1. The split leaves the Golden Bears with a 12-7 record on the season as they prepare for a challenging final day of competition in Louisiana.
The Bears demonstrated resilience throughout the day, battling through competitive matches against both opponents. The team’s performance highlights both their strengths and areas for improvement as they navigate a demanding schedule against some of the nation’s top programs. The Death Volley Invitational, hosted at the LSU Beach Volleyball Stadium, provides a crucial opportunity for California to test itself against elite competition and refine its strategies ahead of the postseason.
California’s win against Boise State was a hard-fought affair, requiring victories at multiple court positions to secure the team result. The duo of Emma Donley and Portia Sherman, currently ranked No. 4 nationally by TruVolley, played a pivotal role, clinching the decisive point with a dominant 21-14, 21-9 win. This victory underscored the importance of the Bears’ top pairs in setting the tone for the entire team.
Bears Secure First Win Against Boise State
The match against Boise State began favorably for Cal, with early wins coming from Elle Evers and Jenna Colligan on Court 4 (21-15, 21-12) and Mila Vugrincic and Savanna Lau on Court 5 (21-14, 21-15). These initial victories provided a strong foundation for the Bears, putting pressure on the Broncos to respond. However, Boise State battled back, securing wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 courts, setting the stage for a decisive showdown at the No. 1 position.
Donley and Sherman answered the call, delivering a commanding performance that sealed the victory for California. Their ability to control the court and execute their game plan effectively proved crucial in overcoming a determined Boise State team. The full results of the match are as follows:
- No. 1: Donley/Sherman (Cal) def. Anderson/Walden, 21-14, 21-9
- No. 2: Alden/Van Der Made (BSU) def. Pally/Hong, 24-22, 26-24
- No. 3: Demirjian/Allen (BSU) def. Fisher/Haughy, 22-20, 21-18
- No. 4: Evers/Colligan (Cal) def. Moss/Wolthius, 21-15, 21-12
- No. 5: Vugrincic/Lau (Cal) def. Ellena/Patoch, 21-14, 21-15
Florida State Proves Too Strong
The afternoon match against No. 6 Florida State presented a significantly tougher challenge for the Golden Bears. Despite a strong effort, Cal could only manage a single court win, falling short against the Seminoles’ powerful lineup. The match highlighted the depth and skill of Florida State, who demonstrated their national ranking with a convincing performance.
Marilu Pally and Grace Hong provided the lone bright spot for California, earning a decisive victory on Court 2 with a score of 21-10, 21-11. However, the Seminoles proved too strong in the remaining matches, securing wins at the No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 positions. Notably, Donley and Sherman faced Audrey Koenig and Alexis Durish, the nation’s top-ranked pair according to TruVolley, in a closely contested match that ultimately went to Florida State (23-21, 21-23, 15-10).
The complete results from the match against Florida State are:
- No. 1: Koenig/Durish (FSU) def. Donley/Sherman, 23-21, 21-23, 15-10
- No. 2: Pally/Hong (Cal) def. Bothman/Boulware, 21-10, 21-11
- No. 3: Andrew/Trusty (FSU) def. Fisher/Haughy, 21-16, 21-13
- No. 4: Hultquist/Henke (FSU) def. Evers/Colligan, 21-16, 21-13
- No. 5: Massey/Higgins (FSU) def. Vugrincic/Lau, 21-15, 21-19
Looking Ahead to Saturday’s Matches
The California beach volleyball team will conclude its participation in the Death Volley Invitational on Saturday with matches against Georgia State and No. 4 Texas. These matches will provide another opportunity for the Bears to test their skills against a range of opponents and gain valuable experience. The team will undoubtedly seem to build on the lessons learned from Friday’s matches and strive for consistent performance across all court positions. The official Cal Athletics website will provide updated schedules and results throughout the tournament.
The competition against Georgia State is scheduled for the morning, followed by a challenging afternoon matchup against the nationally ranked Texas team. The Bears will require to bring their best effort to secure victories against these formidable opponents. Fans can follow the team’s progress on Instagram (@calbeachvb) and X (@calbeachvb) for live updates and behind-the-scenes content.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, resources are available. You can contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 in the US and Canada, or by dialing 111 in the UK. These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
Stay tuned for further updates on the Bears’ performance at the Death Volley Invitational. We encourage readers to share their thoughts and support for the team in the comments below.
Keep reading
