BERKELEY – California volleyball hosted its home ACC opener on Friday night, hoping to get its first conference win of the season against visitor Wake Forest, but ultimately fell in straight sets (18-25, 16-25, 22-25) to the Demon Deacons (10-4, 2-1 ACC). The Golden Bears are now 8-7 (0-3) on the season.
 
Sophomore Xuemeng (Maggie) Li led both teams with 9 kills on the night, while junior setter Natalie Lau posted her sixth double-double of the season with 19 assists and 15 digs. Two other Bears – sophomore Sophia Johnson (12) and senior Gianna Bartalo (11) – also finished the night with double-digit digs. A trio of Cal players (senior Ellie Hamm, sophomore Sawyer Thomsen and freshman Kate Mansfield) paced the squad with three blocks apiece; Mansfield also notched a career-high six digs.
 
Cal allowed four three-point scoring runs – and a late four-point run – by the Demon Deacons in the first set, with the visitors posting a solid offense to overcome five service errors. Although neither team hit well in the second set, the story was much the same despite the Bears starting off with a 3-1 lead, as Wake Forest recorded eight-consecutive points following a 5-5 tie to take the advantage for good. Cal's final set was by far its most competitive, going up early and forcing five tie scores, including one at 19-19 and a late offensive surge from Mansfield, but a pair of errors ultimately clinched the match in favor of the Demon Deacons.
 
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The Bears welcome the NC State Wolfpack (7-4, 2-1) to Haas Pavilion Sunday, with first serve scheduled for 1 p.m. PT.
 
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