MORAGA, Calif. – True to neighborhood rivalries, California's visit to Saint Mary's on Saturday afternoon was well attended and boisterous.
 
Most points brought the slew of onlookers to their feet in the moment-to-moment nail-biter in Moraga.
 
Unfortunately, the Golden Bears (8-3, 0-0 Pac-12) were bested 3-0 (16-25, 23-25, 20-15), a result not indicative of the closely-contested effort from both sides, suffering their first sweep of the season.
 
Cal's collective contribution was marked by six different Bears recording at least five kills, with Bailee Huizenga and Carmen Annevelink leading the charge with eight kills each. Preslie Anderson, who recorded a .556 hitting percentage, also added a team-best three aces.
 
Mima Mirkovic who played the libero led the Bears defense with 10 digs.
 
"I felt like we really executed our game plan," said head coach Jenn Dorr. "As evidence by some of the stat lines, our middles and outside hitters were where they needed to be. I'm really happy with what we were able to execute offensively, even though we did not get the result we wanted. The effort and energy were there."
 
Cal was outhit 45-38, its second lowest kill total of the season, and allowed 11 aces, while forcing 12 errors. The Blue and Gold only erred 10 times, a season low, but combined for an impressive .329 hitting percentage, its second best display of the season.
  
Prior to Saturday's loss, the Bears have gone 1-1 in matches when trailing 2-0. Cal lost its first match of the season 3-2 to Northern Colorado, before bouncing back on Thursday at home versus Pacific in five.
 
The first set appeared a lopsided win for the Gaels (8-2, 0-0 WCC), though the Bears were not short on effort. In fact, Cal was only outhit 14-13 in the opening game, with an impressive .393 attacking percentage that was just ahead of SMC's .387. However, Cal allowed five aces, despite SMC's three service errors, in set 1 to widen the deficit and trailed the entire set.
 
Cal opens Pac-12 play with a four game homestand beginning on Wednesday when it hosts second-ranked Stanford at 8 p.m. (PT).  The Bears-Cardinal matchup will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.
 
For more information on Cal volleyball, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @CalVolleyball.