HONOLULU -- Let there be no doubt, No. 11 Cal beach volleyball can compete with the best teams in the country.

For the second day in a row, Cal came excruciatingly close to upsetting No. 6 Hawai'i, only to come up just short in a pivotal third set. However, the inspired play by the Bears against stiff competition proves that no task is too daunting for the Bears.

Head Coach Meagan Owusu was not surprised by her squad's spirited play, but believes that it put other teams on notice.

"We know what we are capable but I think this weekend sent a message to Hawai'i and other top teams that we are here to battle against the best of the best," Owusu said.  

In the semifinals, Cal and Hawai'i cruised past Boise St. and Nebraska respectively, setting up the the final matchup between the tournament's two best teams.   

With Hawaii leading 2-1 after the No. 2, 3, and 5 matches, Cal needed victories in third sets by two of their most consistent pairs - No. 1 Jordan Polo and Mima Mirkovic and No. 4 Alexia Inman and Madison Dueck.

Polo and Mirkovic took their third set 15-11 setting up the all-decisive No. 4 match.

In a near copy of Saturday's dual - which also came down to the No. 4 match - Inman and Dueck played Hawai'i's 4s tight and pushed the set to extra points, only to fall 17-15 after a gutting battle.

Despite not quite eeking out the victory, Owusu saw noticeable improvement by the No. 4 pair.

"Our goal was to seize every opportunity in the third set of the 4s match," Owusu said. "Both Alexia and Madi wanted the serves during the crucial moments. We fell short but we definitely performed better than yesterday."

While the result was not what Cal wanted, the Bears gave the Rainbow Wahine all they could handle. In the two Hawai'i duals, Cal managed to take four matches and pushed another four to three sets.

Before the final dual against Hawai'i, the Bears got by Boise St. with ease in the semifinals, dispatching the Broncos, 5-0. Cal did not drop a single set in the dual.

With victories against Boise St. and Hawai'i on Sunday, Polo and Mirkovic and No. 5 pair Mia Merino and Abby Waldburger completed perfect 5-0 records during the tournament.

The loss to Hawai'i will sting but Owusu believes that there is much to be learned from close defeats.

"The sky is the limit for this squad," Owusu said. "I think we are very close to cracking in to being one of the top teams in the country. Every loss we have is a huge learning experience. While we never want to lose, having two losses that were so close will benefit us in the future."  

Cal doesn't need to wait long to play another ranked opponent. The Bears will play host to No. 19 St. Mary's and UC Davis on Saturday at the Clark Kerr Sand Courts.
 

No. 11 California 5, Boise State 0
No. 1: Jordan Polo-Mima Mirkovic (CAL) def. Janell Walley-Kendra Bodine 21-15, 23-21
No. 2: Iya Lindahl-Caroline Schafer (CAL) def. Sabryn Roberts-Morgan Hughes 21-18, 21-18
No. 3: Madi Micheletti-Grace Campbell (CAL) def. Jensen Allen-Kiley Lewis 21-9, 21-10
No. 4: Madison Dueck-Alexia Inman (CAL) def. Kylee Johnson-Ellie McDonald 21-17, 21-11
No. 5: Mia Merino-Abby Waldburger (CAL) def. Maya Watkins-Kenna Hanses 21-18, 21-13

No. 6 Hawai'i 3, No. 11 California 2
No. 1: Jordan Polo-Mima Mirkovic (CAL) def. Emily Maglio-Amy Ozee 21-15, 19-21, 15-11
No. 2: Julia Scoles-Ari Homayun (UH) def. Caroline Schafer-Iya Lindahl  21-15, 21-13
No. 3: Pani Napoleon-Morgan Martin (UH) def. Grace Campbell-Madi Micheletti 22-20, 21-15
No. 4: Hi'ilawe Huddleston-Kylin Loker (UH) def. Madison Dueck-Alexia Inman 21-15, 17-21, 17-15
No. 5: Mia Merino-Abby Waldburger (CAL) def. Sofia Russo-Ashley Stevens 21-9, 21-18