Cal volleyball sweeps No. 18 Stanford to end 11-match skid

Cal volleyball swept No. 18 Stanford 3-0 on Wednesday at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, winning 25-23, 25-20 and 27-25 to end an 11-match losing streak against the Cardinal. Read more: Cal volleyball sweeps No. 18 Stanford to end 11-match skid

It was the Bears' first win over Stanford since Feb. 12, 2021. Cal also won that day in Berkeley, in five sets.

Stanford had taken 11 straight before Wednesday in the series both schools call the Big Spike, but the Cardinal still entered the night leading the all-time series 88-12.

Stanford also played without starting setter Logan Parks, who runs the offense by setting up attackers. Parks was not in uniform Wednesday. Junior Lilly Wagner filled in and finished with 27 assists, eight digs, four kills and two blocks.

Cal hit .296 as a team, a clean number against a ranked opponent that reflects how often the Bears' attackers found open floor. The Bears also outkilled Stanford 50-38, the gap that decided the match. They out-dug the Cardinal 59-57, too, enough extra swings to extend rallies.

The win pulled Cal level with Stanford in the ACC standings at 6-5 apiece. The Bears improved to 16-6 overall as Stanford fell to 13-8.

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Zimmerman leads Cal's attack

Abby Zimmerman led the Bears with 12 kills on .345 hitting, adding five digs and an ace. Setter Anna Flores ran the offense with 37 assists and finished with 22 digs, five kills and an ace of her own.

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Stanford didn't fold without Parks, but the setter shuffle still showed in stretches. Lizzy Andrew hit .412 with eight kills and five blocks, three of them solo, plus an ace.

Julia Blyashov and Jordyn Harvey each had nine kills, with Harvey also adding 12 digs and Blyashov 11. Spencer Etzler dug out 14 balls, 10 of them in the first set alone, and served two aces.

The loss came after a mixed week for Stanford, which won at Duke in four sets before falling at North Carolina in five.

Cal volleyball and Stanford meet again Friday at Maples Pavilion at 7 p.m. on ACCNX. Parks' availability is the first question both benches will be watching for.