LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Cal Beach Volleyball ran their unbeaten streak to nine matches as they swept Arizona State and defeated #5 USC on Sunday morning.
The Bears took to Mapes Beach with something to prove. Cal has only defeated USC once in school history heading into Sunday's matchup, but they were able to get off to a quick start by winning the first two duals, prevailing 3-2.
 
Sunday's victory was only the second top-five victory in school history. Cal's only other victory over a top-five opponent came on April 15, 2018 as they took down USC by an identical 3-2 scoreline.
 
"This kind of effort, shows we're getting a little bit better," acting head coach Derek Olson said. "When we have the opportunity to learn, we are. We're making good adjustments. We have a ways to go, but that's a good thing because it means we have so much untapped potential. The stakes get raised the longer the season goes."
 
No. 11 California (5) def. Arizona State (0)
The Bears swept Arizona State for the second time in the past two weekends as they dropped only one set across the five matchups. The 8 a.m. start after the time change made for some challenging circumstances as the Bears took on a team that was receiving votes in the most recent poll.
 
"It was cold out there for the first match, but we came out and played with confidence and energy and it showed throughout the match with ASU," Olson said.
 
Caroline Schafer and Jordan Polo got the Bears started off on the right foot as the duo won 21-17, 21-8 at the second pair. Maddie Micheletti and Ainsley Radell made the score 2-0 as they won 21-19, 21-13 at the fourth court to conclude the first wave.
 
The second wave started with a familiar site for the Bears as Alexia Inman and Madison Dueck continued their unbeaten start to the year with a straight-set victory over Katelyn Carballo and Ellyson Lundberg of ASU. The pair won Pac-12 Pair of the week and has backed it up by going 2-0 yesterday at the Pac-12 tournament and winning 21-16, 21-17 on court three.
 
Iya Lindahl and Mima Mirkovic put the Bears in front 4-0 with another straight-set win on the top court, 21-18, 21-12. Jacqueline Ribeiro and Chloe Luyties capped the sweep as they won 21-11, 18-21, 15-7 in three sets on the fifth court.
 
It was cold out there, for the first match, but they came out and played with confidence and energy and it showed.
 
#1 - Mima Mirkovic/Iya Lindahl (CAL) def. Emily Anderson/Sarah Waters (ASU) - 21-18, 21-12
#2 - Caroline Schafer/Jordan Polo (CAL) def. Allyson Eylers/Matea Suan (ASU) - 21-17, 21-8
#3 - Alexia Inman/Madison Dueck (CAL) def. Katelyn Carballo/Ellyson Lundberg (ASU) - 21-16, 21-17
#4 - Maddie Micheletti/Ainsley Radell (CAL) def. Cierra Flood/Samantha Plaster (ASU) - 21-19, 21-13
#5 - Jacqueline Ribeiro/Chloe Luyties (CAL) def. Lexi Sweeney/Kate Baldwin (ASU) - 21-11, 18-21, 15-7
 
No. 11 California (3) def. No. 5 USC (2)
The Bears won both matchups during the early wave to take a 2-0 lead over USC, however the Trojans were able to swing some momentum back in the second wave as they took the victory on court five.
 
On the top court, Mirkovic and Lindahl won the first set 21-18, but fell in the second set, 10-21, to set up a decisive third set. They were able to get out to a four-point lead in the third set and led 14-11, but USC tied the matchup at 14.
 
"I feel really confident in Iya and Mima with the game on the line," Olson said. "They've proven they can get it done in crunch-time situations, they have that experience. When USC tied the match at 14, most teams would have called a timeout. They brushed off that suggestion, they were confident and determined to get the win, and they did."
 
Mima sided out to make the score 15-14 and the USC pair hit the ball out of bounds to clinch the match for the Bears.
 
Schafer and Polo started the Bears off on the right foot, defeating Kyla Doig and Sammy Slater by a score of 21-18, 21-12 on the second court.
 
"Caroline and Jordan played their best match of the year," Olson said. "It finally came together for them; before this match, they were pressing and trying to do too much. Today, they played within themselves and the result was pretty dominant, I'm proud of them."
 
The momentum continued on court four as Maddie Michletti and Ainsley Radell won a hard fought straight set victory. The Bears had leads in both sets, but USC was able to claw their way back into the matchup. The Bears needed extra time in both sets to secure the win, 23-21, 25-23.
 
"The resiliency of the four seed was awesome," Olson said. "Ainsley, as a freshman, was completely unfazed by the situation and the pressure. She was aggressive and wasn't worried about risking plays. Her and Maddie rose to the occasion when the pressure was on."
 
Luyties and Ribeiro dropped the matchup on the fifth court, 21-17, 21-14, to set up the tight finish. Dueck and Inman saw their unbeaten run come to a close. After Mirkovic and Lindahl clinched the dual, Dueck and Inman were unable to increase the Cal lead as they lost their first set and their first matchup of the season, falling 18-21, 21-19, 15-7.
 
#1 - Mima Mirkovic/Iya Lindahl (CAL) def. Hallgren, Haley/Harward, Hailey (USC) - 21-18, 10-21, 16-14
#2 - Caroline Schafer/Jordan Polo (CAL) def. Doig, Kyla/Slater, Sammy (USC) - 21-18, 21-12
#3 - Nourse, Audrey/Nourse, Nicole (USC) def. Alexia Inman/Madison Dueck (CAL) - 18-21, 21-19, 15-7
#4 - Maddie Micheletti/Ainsley Radell (CAL) def. Dennis, Joy/Hallgren, Harper (USC) - 23-21, 25-23
#5 - Dorn, Cammie/Dreeuws, Paige (USC) def. Chloe Luyties/Jacqueline Ribeiro (CAL) - 21-17, 21-14