BERKELEY - A spark of energy midway through the third set gave the Cal volleyball team hope for a comeback but visiting Colorado turned up the intensity from there as the Bears fell 25-20, 25-18, 25-19 to begin the final week of the 2017 season at Haas Pavilion.

After jumping out to a 3-1 lead right away, Cal (13-17, 4-15 Pac-12) found itself locked in a back and forth battle throughout the first set. Though Colorado (22-8, 12-7) forged ahead by the midway point of the set, the Bears never let the deficit grow past four and closed the gap to just 22-20 before the Buffaloes scored the final three points to take a 1-0 lead.

Colorado pulled ahead early in the second set but Maddie Haynes brought life off the Cal bench, at one point contributing two blocks and a kill in a 5-1 run for the Bears. A big swing by Mima Mirkovic provided the final point of the set for Cal but the Buffaloes had too much of a cushion for the Bears to overcome.

The third set stayed close throughout but Cal's longest sustained run of offense launched a five-point run that put the Bears ahead. A block by Caihla Petiprin and Carmen Annevelink, kills by Preslie Anderson and Mirkovic, another block by Mirkovic and Anderson and an error on Colorado gave Cal a 10-9 advantage.

Colorado rallied from there, re-taking the lead for good at 12-11. Again Cal kept it close but the Buffaloes scored the final five points and a kill by Anna Pfefferle brought the match to a close.

Anderson and Annevelink led the Bears in the kill category with six apiece. Mirkovic contributed five kills and nine digs while Jordyn Schuette led Cal's passing attack with 13 assists.

Cal returns to Haas Pavilion on Saturday at 7 p.m. to square off with rival Stanford in the final match of the season. Before the match, the Bears will honor their six seniors for their contributions in an on-court ceremony. The contest will be broadcast live by Pac-12 Networks.