BERKELEY – California volleyball welcomed former conference-mate UCLA to Haas Pavilion Saturday to close out its nonconference slate, hoping to head into ACC play on a winning streak; ultimately, however, the Bruins (6-3) swept the Golden Bears (8-4) in straight sets, 17-25, 18-25, 22-25.
 
As a team, Cal was held to .173 hitting. Sophomore Xuemeng (Maggie) Li posted nine kills to lead the Bears, while defensive specialists Gianna Bartalo and Sophia Johnson tied with nine digs apiece. On the opposing side, UCLA junior Cheridyn Leverette led the Bruins' offense with 18 kills (.371).
 
Cal forced 12 ties in the first set, staying toe-to-toe with UCLA despite hitting just .029 before the visitors ripped open an eight-point scoring run to take the first. The Bears built a solid lead early in the second, forcing a UCLA timeout at 8-3 after two service aces from sophomore Sophia Johnson; however, the Bruins' offense subsequently came to life and soon tied up the score at 13-13. UCLA raced away once more after the last tie at 17-17, with only a Sawyer Thomsen kill  (18-22) preventing another eight-point run.
 
The Bears out-hit the Bruins, .295 to .265, in the final set, once again triggering an early UCLA timeout after scoring five-straight points (including two-consecutive kills from setter Natalie Lau) to make the score 6-1. Another three-point run shortly afterward (featuring kills from Li, junior Peyton DeJardin and freshman Kate Mansfield) increased Cal's lead to seven at 12-5.
 
The Bruins began their comeback effort in earnest with a 5-1 run mid-set, coming within just one point to force a Cal timeout with the Bears leading 18-17. Two UCLA errors followed, but from there, it was all offense – the next 10 points were kills, with eight by the visitors to close out the match.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears open ACC play on the road next week, traveling to No. 4 Louisville (8-1) on Friday and Notre Dame (7-1) the following Sunday.
 
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