BERKELEY – A near-unheard of comeback fell just short for the Cal volleyball team on Saturday night in the final match of the Cal Classic.

The Bears scored seven straight points to turn a 24-18 deficit into a 25-24 advantage in the fourth set against No. 19 Santa Clara – staving off six match points in the process – but the Broncos ultimately prevailed and finished off a 16-25, 25-19, 25-13, 29-27 victory at Haas Pavilion.

It wasn't just the final stretch of points that made Cal's just-missed comeback notable. The Bears fell behind 9-0 and 20-10 before storming back to take the late lead.

Earlier in the day, the Bears (5-3) swept Grand Canyon, 28-26, 25-16, 25-16 behind redshirt sophomore Ashten Smith-Gooden's 14 kills.

Junior Christine Alftin had 15 kills and 10 digs to lead the Bears against Santa Clara while senior Jenelle Jordan had 10 kills and three blocks. Freshman Bailee Huizenga added eight kills and was named to the Cal Classic All-Tournament Team.

The Broncos were just five points from winning the match when the Bears began to make the crowd at Haas Pavilion take notice. Kills by Alftin, Huizenga and freshman Maddie Haynes trimmed the deficit to 20-13, and after Santa Clara took a 23-15 advantage, kills by Haynes and Alftin and a service ace from senior Sabrina Blackwell made it 23-18.

The Broncos got to match point at 24-18, but that's when excitement grew. Jordan put down a kill and Alftin followed with two of her own, forcing a Santa Clara timeout. Alftin and junior Caihla Petiprin teamed up for a block and Petiprin followed with a kill to make it 24-23, and Alftin hammered down another kill to tie the set. A Santa Clara hitting error gave the Bears set point at 25-24.

The Broncos scored the next two points to give themselves another match point, but another kill by Alftin tied it back up. The teams exchanged points again before Santa Clara finally notched back-to-back scores to finish off the win.

Cal senior Maddy Kerr had 19 kills and moved into third place on the Bears' all-time career digs list with 1,499. Senior Alyssa Jensen dished out 42 assists.

The Bears return to action Friday at Pacific at 7 p.m.