CAL CLASSIC
CLARK KERR SAND COURTS
BERKELEY, CA
 
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
UC DAVIS VS. SAN JOSE STATE | 9 A.M. PT | LIVE STATS
UC DAVIS VS. NO. 9 CAL | 11:30 A.M. PT | LIVE STATS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. NO. 9 CAL | 2 P.M. PT | LIVE STATS
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
UC DAVIS VS. SAN JOSE STATE | 9 A.M. PT | LIVE STATS
SAN JOSE STATE VS. NO. 9 CAL | 11:30 A.M. PT | LIVE STATS
UC DAVIS VS. NO. 9 CAL | 2 P.M. PT | LIVE STATS


BERKELEY – It will be a weekend of benchmarks this Friday and Saturday at the Cal Classic in Berkeley, as eight seniors will play the final home matches of their California beach volleyball careers while the program itself will say goodbye to the facility it's called home for the first 13 years of its existence.

The Golden Bears' senior class will be honored during a special ceremony following play on Saturday, immediately after the team plays its final dual at the Clark Kerr Sand Courts. The Bears are moving into the Banatao Family Beach Volleyball Stadium beginning with the 2027 season.

THANK YOU, SENIORS
Cal's accomplished 2026 senior class will make its final home appearances this week, leaving an impactful legacy behind in Berkeley. Portia Sherman, Gia Fisher, Marilu Pally, Jenna Colligan and Mila Vugrincic have all spent their entire college careers with the Bears and have helped lead Cal to a 92-41 record since the beginning of the 2023 season – including NCAA Championships appearances every year. Finley Rollins transferred to Cal after spending her freshman season at UC Davis, while Mila Yarich (Yale's indoor team) and Madison Oriskovich (Pepperdine) arrived at Cal this year.

CLARK KERR SENDOFF
The Bears will play their last duals ever at the Clark Kerr Sand Courts this week, capping off a 13-year run that began on March 14, 2014 – a 5-0 Cal victory over San Jose State. Since then, the Bears have played 66 duals in Berkeley and have an impressive 56-10 home record – including a whopping 31-dual winning streak between 2017 and 2024.

NEW HOME
The Bears will move into a new facility in 2027 – the Banatao Family Beach Volleyball Stadium. The project is being partially funded by Cal's successful Gender Equity Campaign that raised $8 million and allows for the campus' continued commitment to and compliance with Title IX – the landmark federal law that was enacted in 1972 that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving any type of financial aid.

SHERMAN, DONLEY SET PROGRAM STANDARD
Cal's No. 1 pair of Emma Donley and Portia Sherman became the program's all-time leader in career pair wins earlier this season. Now with 46 victories, the duo eclipsed the previous Golden Bear mark of 37 set by Grace Campbell and Maddie Micheletti. Sherman also ranks sixth on the team's all-time individual win list with 73 while Donley checks in at No. 9 with 68 victories.

RANKINGS TALK
The Bears remain ranked No. 9 for the third straight week in the AVCA Collegiate Beach Poll after spending the previous three weeks in the No. 10 spot. Cal began the season ranked No. 9. All-Americans Emma Donley and Portia Sherman form the fifth-ranked pair in the country this week, according to TruVolley.

LAST TIME OUT
The Bears had a bye last week, but are coming off a strong performance at the Death Volley Invitational at LSU on March 20-21. The performance was highlighted by a 3-2 victory over then-No. 4 Texas, a win that was sealed when No. 1 pair Emma Donley and Portia Sherman's took a three-set marathon 15-21, 21-19, 19-17. Cal also defeated Boise State and Georgia State while falling to No. 6 Florida State.

DONLEY ON PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Junior Emma Donley was named to the first-ever AVCA Collegiate Beach Player of the Year watch list for 2026, recognizing her as one of the nation's top talents. Donley, alongside partner Portia Sherman, was an AVCA First-Team All-American and First-Team All-MPSF selection in 2025. The duo set Cal program records for single-season pair wins (27) and Court 1 wins (21) last season, including 17 victories against ranked opponents. They are 18-2 this season and ranked No. 5 nationally by TruVolley.

HEAD COACH MEAGAN OWUSU
Head Coach Meagan Owusu is in her 10th season at the helm at Cal and has established the Bears as a consistent national power. Cal has qualified for each of the past four NCAA Championships and has ended the season ranked in the top 12 for eight straight years – including four straight top-10 finishes. Owusu was also a defensive specialist for Cal's indoor program from 2007-2010 and helped the Bears reach their only two NCAA Final Fours in history.

 
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