SEATTLE – No. 6/7 California beach volleyball fell short in a pair of 3-2 losses to No. 3 USC and No. 13 Washington at the Pac-12 North Tournament on Saturday.
 
The Golden Bears (16-10) went 1-3 in the two-day event at Alki Beach, dropping their final three matches played, including a loss to No. 1 UCLA on Friday. Cal's Portia Sherman and Ella Dreibholz won both of their 5s matches in convincing fashion against the Trojans and Huskies and finished the weekend with three total victories as a pair.
 
USC 3, Cal 2
The Golden Bears picked up wins in the 1s and 5s – highlighted by Sierra Caffo and Alexandria Young-Gomez rallying back from a first-set loss to win 13-21, 21-16, 15-12 on court one – but fell in straight sets in the three other matches against the Trojans (24-3). Sherman and Dreibholz earned their second win of the weekend, dominating the first set on the way to a 21-9, 21-18 victory in the 5s.
 
It was Cal and USC's first clash since April 27, 2023 when the Bears upended the Trojans 3-2 in the second round of the Pac-12 Championships.
 
1. Sierra Caffo/Alexandria Young-Gomez (Cal) def. Laynie Maple/Megan Kraft (USC) 13-21, 21-16, 15-12
2. Grace Seits/Maddi Kriz (USC) def. Gia Fisher/Emma Donley (Cal) 21-14, 21-17
3. Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) def. Marilu Pally/Kendall Peters (Cal) 21-17, 21-18
4. Ashley Pater/Madison White (USC) def. Jenna Colligan/Lara Boos (Cal) 21-14, 25-23
5. Portia Sherman/Ella Dreibholz (Cal) def. Mabyn Thomas/Ainsley Radell (USC) 21-9, 21-18
 
Washington 3, Cal 2
The Huskies (11-10) jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with straight-set wins in the 2s and 4s and despite Cal's 5s victory by Sherman and Dreibholz – who rolled 21-10, 21-9 – Washington was able to clinch the team win in four matches. With the match outcome already determined, Marilu Pally and Kendall Peters picked up a 22-20, 21-15 win on court three.
 
1. Piper Monk-Heidrich/Magdalena Rabitsch (UW) def. Sierra Caffo/Alexandria Young-Gomez (Cal) 21-16, 21-19
2. Zoey Henson/Lauren Wilcock (UW) def. Gia Fisher/Emma Donley (Cal) 21-18, 21-16
3. Marilu Pally/Kendall Peters (Cal) def. Kierstyn Barton/Kendall Mather (UW) 22-20, 21-15
4. Scarlett Dahl/Natalie Martin (UW) def. Jenna Colligan/Lara Boos (Cal) 21-19, 21-14
5. Portia Sherman/Ella Dreibholz (Cal) def. Brooke Balue/Sarah Wilcock (UW) 21-10, 21-9
 
NEXT UP
Cal returns to Berkeley for its home finale against Sacramento State on Friday. First serve is at 2 p.m. PT at the Clark Kerr Sand Courts.
 
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