SAN LUIS OBISPO – Senior Portia Sherman moved into a tie for fifth place on the California beach volleyball team's all-time wins list and the No. 9 Golden Bears split a pair of duals on the first day of the Center of Effort Challenge at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday.

Sherman and partner Emma Donley won both of their matches on the top court as Cal defeated No. 13 Arizona State 4-1 and fell to No. 2 UCLA 4-1. Sherman now had 79 wins as an individual, tying with former Cal All-American Mima Mirkovic for fifth place on the program's career list.

Sherman and Donley entered the tournament as the No. 6 pair in the country by TruVolley. Their win against UCLA came against Sally Perez and Maggie Boyd, who rank No. 2 nationally.

The Bears (19-8) picked up two other wins in three sets against the Sun Devils, including a tight 21-17, 21-23, 15-13 victory on the No. 3 court by senior Gia Fisher and junior Ava Haughy. Fisher and Donley both now have 74 career wins, putting them in a tie for seventh all-time at Cal.

Sherman and Donley gave the Bears the first point of their dual against the Bruins. After UCLA took the next two matches, the dual hung in the balance as the No. 4 and No. 5 courts featured two hotly contested battles. The Bears' No. 4 pair of seniors Jenna Colligan and Mila Vugrincic went extra time in the second set before ultimately falling, 21-19, 27-25. Meanwhile, Cal's Bella Adishian and Mila Yarich extended their match to the limit on the No. 5 court before final losing, 21-15, 15-21, 15-13.

The Bears continue play in the Center of Effort Challenge on Saturday, beginning with a dual against host and No. 6 Cal Poly at 12:45 p.m. PT.

 
No. 9 California 4, No. 13 Arizona State 1
No. 1: Portia Sherman/Emma Donley (Cal) def. Samaya Morin/Daniella Kensinger, 21-18, 21-17
No. 2: Ava Kirunchyk/Olivia McElroy (ASU) def. Marilu Pally/Grace Hong (Cal) def. 21-13, 20-22, 15-13
No. 3: Gia Fisher/Ava Haughy (Cal) def. McKenna Flaherty/Kristin Gilmour, 21-17, 21-23, 15-13
No. 4: Mila Vugrincic/Jenna Colligan (Cal) def. Zoe Taylor/Arden Besecker, 18-21, 21-16, 15-9
No. 5: Bella Adishian/Mila Yarich (Cal) def. Reagan Hope/Layla Williams, 22-20, 21-16

No. 2 UCLA 4, No. 9 California 1
No. 1: Portia Sherman/Emma Donley (Cal) def. Sally Perez/Maggie Boyd, 21-18, 21-15
No. 2: Kaley Mathews/Ensley Alden (UCLA) def. Marilu Pally/Grace Hong, 21-19, 21-14
No. 3: Alexa Fernandez/Harper Cooper (UCLA) def. Gia Fisher/Ava Haughy, 21-12, 21-17
No. 4: Ava Williamson/Adelina Okazaki (UCLA) def. Mila Vugrincic/Jenna Colligan, 21-19, 27-25
No. 5: Kenzie Brower/Mallory LeBreche (UCLA) def. Bella Adishian/Mila Yarich, 21-15, 15-21, 15-13

 
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