REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – Second-ranked California captured the Lambert Cup, defeating No. 6 Stanford in all three races in the 82nd annual Big Row on Saturday at Redwood Shores. Cal and Stanford once again competed in honor of Jill Costello with the Bears donning their teal (Costello's favorite color) uniforms and both teams competing as Team Jill.

“Jill means so much to our team as she was a coxswain for us,” said California head women's crew coach Al Acosta. “Honoring her legacy brings out the best in our team. We compete as Team Jill with special uniforms of Jill's favorite color to celebrate her life.”

Cal's varsity eight completed the regular season undefeated after posting a Redwood Shores course-record time of 6:13.0 to defeat No. 6 Stanford (6:16.5). The Bears own wins over Virginia, Brown, Washington and the Cardinal this season.  

“Stanford is really tough and I thought we did a nice job,” Acosta said. “There were fast conditions and that's when you set course records and the varsity set the course record today. That's great, but Stanford was right there with us. I'm really happy for the four. The new junior varsity lineup went faster than they have gone all year long.”

The Bears, sporting a new lineup in the second varsity eight, recorded a nearly six-second victory over the Cardinal, 6:24.3 – 6:30.2. It was the boat's second victory over the Cardinal this year, following a win in the Grand Final of the Lake Natoma Invitational on April 12 on Gold River.  

Cal's varsity four avenged a loss to Stanford earlier this season with a four-second win over the Cardinal on Saturday. Cal's boat, featuring just two of the same members of the crew that faced Stanford last time they squared off on Gold River in the Grand Final of the Lake Natoma Invitational on April 12, raced down the course in 7:17.9, to Stanford's 7:21.9.

“I think this rivalry is very intense on the water, but off the water all of us coaches are friends and a lot of the athletes rowed for the same team,” Acosta continued. “It is a very friendly rivalry on land and it was good to see some old friends.” 

Cal returns to action in two weeks, competing in the Pac-12 Championships on Gold River near Sacramento, Calif. May 17. The Bears will also race on Gold River for the 2015 NCAA Championships May 29-31.

Varsity Eight
Results: 1. California (6:13.0), 2. Stanford (6:16.5)
Cal Lineup: Lindsay Meltz (coxswain), Kendall Chase (stroke), Ingvild Roenningen (7), Caileigh Filmer (6), Mia Croonquist (5), Jacinta Edmunds (4), Dorothee Beckendorff (3), Inger Kavlie (2), Rowan McKellar (bow)

Second Varsity Eight
Results: 1. California (6:24.3), 2. Stanford (6:30.2)
Cal Lineup: Hannah Christopher (coxswain), Roison Duffy (stroke), Charlotte Siering (7), Charlotte Passot (6), Maddie Wolf (5), Hunter Deuel (4), Danielle Struck (3), Sarah Schwartz (2), Stephanie Kraemer (bow)

Varsity Four
Results: 1. California (7:17.9), 2. Stanford (7:21.9)
Cal Lineup: Hannah Freeman (coxswain), Katie Kelly (stroke), Camilla Gardiner (3), Lisa Perrine (2), Katie De Haas (bow)