LONG BEACH – In a match where three of the four sets were decided by two points, the Cal volleyball team fell to Long Beach State 24-26, 25-17, 28-26, 25-23 on Friday on the first day of the LBSU/UC Irvine Mizuno Invitational.

After the teams split the first two sets, the Bears (2-1) had two set points in the third set but couldn't put the 49ers away. Cal also erased a 22-18 deficit in the fourth set, scoring back-to-back points to make it 24-23 before Long Beach St. finally finished off the match.

Senior middle blocker Jenelle Jordan continued her strong start to the season, registering a career-high 16 kills and three blocks with a .444 hitting percentage. Freshman Bailee Huizenga added 12 kills and two blocks with a .321 hitting percentage.

Cal senior libero Maddy Kerr had 15 digs to move into fourth place on the school's all-time list with 1,411 in her career. Senior setter Alyssa Jensen added 45 assists and 12 digs.

The Bears got off to a blistering start, taking an 8-1 lead in the first set behind four kills from Jordan. But the 49ers gradually came back and eventually tied it at 22-22. The teams then traded points until back-to-back errors by Long Beach St. gave Cal the victory.

The Bears couldn't duplicate their strong start in the second set, and the 49ers jumped out to a 15-5 lead. Cal trimmed the deficit to six points before Long Beach St. responded by pushing the advantage back to 11 at 24-13. The Bears staved off four set points before the 49ers closed it out.

The third set was close throughout , with neither team assuming more than a three-point lead. Cal led 22-20 before Long Beach St. scored three in a row to lead 23-22. But the Bears came back with two points in a row to force set point. They also led 25-24, but could never get the needed final point and the 49ers took the pivotal third set.

There was once again never more than a three-point lead by either team in the fourth set until Long Beach St. scored four in a row after it was tied 18-18.

The Bears resume play in the LBSU/UC Irvine Mizuno Invitational with a pair of matches Saturday – 10 a.m. PT vs. Northeastern and 7 p.m. PT vs. UC Irvine.