LINCOLN, Neb. – California volleyball experienced its first loss of 2025 on Saturday, falling 2-3 to Wright State after winning the first two sets in their first match of the weekend at Bob Devaney Sports Center. After a strong first set for the Golden Bears (2-1), the Raiders (3-1) forced an extended second set and then took the next three in efficient fashion, eventually claiming victory with scores of 16-25, 26-28, 25-18, 25-18, 15-8.
 
Senior setter Natalie Lau posted Cal's first double-double of the season with 43 assists and 15 digs, the latter of which tied with junior libero Sophia Johnson (who also earned a match-high three service aces) for a team best. Senior middle blocker Mikayla Hayden and senior outside hitter Peyton DeJardin each recorded a team-high 13 kills, while junior middle blocker Sawyer Thomsen collected a career-best 10 kills on 21 attacks and no errors (.476). Hayden also led the court with six total blocks.
 
The Wright State trio of Mya Ayro (22 kills, .326), Taylor Bransfield (18 kills, .406) and Katie Sowko (13 kills, .303) helped the Raiders outhit the Bears, .247-.162, to win their third five-set match of the season. Both teams experienced issues at the service line, committing 11 service errors apiece.
 
Cal held Wright State to .000 hitting in the first set, coming back from an early three-point deficit thanks to a five-point run and taking the lead for good after a kill from sophomore pin hitter Dominique Phills put the Bears up, 11-10. Another five-point sequence for the Bears, followed by a three-point run to increase the lead to eight points at 22-14, triggered a pair of late Wright State timeouts, but Cal scored the final three points off a service error, a block from Thomsen and DeJardin and a Thomsen kill to claim the set.
 
The second set, which went to extra points, featured 13 ties and four lead changes overall. Thomsen continued her momentum by scoring the first point off a kill, but the Raiders' offense ramped up shortly afterward and kept Cal on its toes throughout the rest of the set, only allowing the Bears to lead by four twice (at 18-14 and 19-15) before re-closing the gap and bringing the score to 23-23 – the first of four late tie scores in the second. The Bears finally clinched the set on DeJardin's seventh kill of the match and a solo block from Hayden.
 
Cal never led in each of the following two sets and scored just 18 points in each as Wright State started the third with a 3-0 run and the fourth with a 5-0 run, keeping Cal to .108 and .053, respectively. The Raiders' defense and offense was at its best in the last set, holding the Bears to -.059 and hitting .333. Following two quick timeouts from Cal, Wright State's Ayro posted a solo block and her 22nd kill for the win.
 
UP NEXT
The Bears will finish off their weekend with a showdown against No. 1 Nebraska (5-0) on the Huskers' home court Sunday, with first serve scheduled for 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT.
 
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