REDWOOD SHORES – The No. 8 California Golden Bears women's rowing team overcame windy conditions and was nearly flawless in the first day of the ACC Challenge sweeping No. 10 Virginia and just getting edged out in its sole race against No. 2 Stanford on Saturday morning at the Redwood Shores. The Bears' top two varsity eights and top four boat defeated Virginia while the 3V8+ lost a close race to the Cardinal. Virginia's 2V4+ ended up scratching. Cal swept the Cavaliers at last year's Pac-12/ACC Challenge in Virginia.
 
In the V4+ race, Cal got off to a fast start taking an open water lead just 250 meters in. By the time the Bears hit the halfway point they were ahead by several boat lengths and easily won in 7:55.5.
 
Cal's second race featured the 2V8+ who got off to a strong start and led by open water after 500 meters and was out by more than two boats of open water by the halfway point. The Bears never let the Cavaliers back in the race and won in a time of 7:09.2.
 
In the V8+ duel, Virginia took a 2-seat lead after the first 10 strokes before Cal walked back the lead to get even by the 250-meter mark. Cal made a move over the second 500 meters of the race and went ahead bow to stern at the halfway mark. The Bears eventually built an open-water lead over the second half of the race to hold off Virginia and win in a time of 6:48.9.
 
In the 3V8+ race, it was fairly even after the first 15 strokes and both teams remained neck and neck through 500 meters. The boats went back and forth over the second 500 meters with neither team going ahead by more than a single seat. The Cardinal were able to take a three-seat lead over the third 500 meters. The Bears were able to stay connected over the last 500 meters but were unable to make a comeback and finished in 7:13.0.
 
The last race of the morning pitted Cal's 4V8+ against its 5V8+. The 4V8+ took a two-seat lead after 15 strokes and gradually increased its lead to a few seats of open water by 500 meters. That advantage remained the same through 1,000 meters. The 5V8+ remained within a boat length over the second half of the race but could not mount a comeback.

Sunday Schedule (all time PT)
 
9:08 a.m. – Cal 2V4+ vs Syracuse
10:12 a.m. – Cal 2V8+ vs Syracuse
10:20 a.m. – Cal V8+ vs Syracuse
10:28 a.m. – Cal V4+ vs Syracuse

Saturday Results
 
V8+
Cal – 6:48.9
Virginia – 6:54.6
 
2V8+
Cal – 7:09.2
Virginia – 7:22.4
 
V4+
Cal – 7:55.5
Virginia – 8:11.2
 
2V4+
Cal – 8:06.9
Virginia – Scratch
 
3V8+
Stanford – 7:04.8
Cal – 7:13.0
 
4V8+ vs 5V8+
4V8+ - 7:22.8
5V8+ - 7:30.5
 
Lineups
V8+
Coxswain – Piper Melnick
8. Giulia Bosio
7. Della Luke
6. Minou Bouman
5. Ella Berger
4. Lily Abbott
3. Ella Wheeler
2. Julia Hunt-Davis
1. Lotta Van Westreenen
 
2V8+
Coxswain – Julia Fullington
8. Star-Rose Miller
7. Lily Pember
6. Olivia Roth
5. Sophie Ward
4. Julia Irmler
3. Shannon Kearney
2. Izzy Campbell
1. Lola Crampin
 
V4+
Coxswain – Kira Obsitnik
4. Miya Meskis
3. Alexandra Pearson
2. Ella Lewerenz
1. Zoe McKernan
 
2V4+
Coxswain – Samantha Jaffe
4. Katie McDermott
3. Annie Brown
2. Allegra O'Sullivan
1. Zara Hoadley
 
3V8+
Coxswain – Emily Nowak
8. Claire Banks
7. Charlotte Hill
6. Francesca Hammerer
5. Amy Furlonger
4. Pippa Jamieson
3. Maude Smith-Montross
2. Gabrielle Jennings
1. Vivi Spitz
 
4V8+
Coxswain – Lauren Peters
8. Eve Barrancotto
7. Sydney Koutrouba
6. Gwyneth Fagg
5. Sidney Curven
4. Madeline Cox
3. Kylie Landers
2. Maile Nelson
1. Isabella Laddy
 
5V8+
Coxswain – Emily Kendall
8. Louisa Molloy
7. Kate Nixon
6. Frieda Cramer
5. Kylee Harrington
4. Ava Andrews
3. Alice Gallo
2. Filippa Ljunggren
1. Campbell Lovell
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Cal women's rowing, follow the Bears on Instagram (@calwrowing) and Facebook (Cal Crew).