In a remarkable display of skill, the No. 10 SMU Mustangs asserted their dominance against the California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion. The match took place on November 10, 2023, and ended in a clean sweep for SMU, with set scores of 25-19, 25-14, and 25-14.
Match Highlights
The Mustangs improved their season record to 20-5, with a conference mark of 12-3. Meanwhile, the Golden Bears fell to a disappointing 7-18, struggling with a 4-11 record in conference play.
Player Performances
- California Golden Bears:
- Mikayla Hayden: 8 kills, .889 hitting percentage
- Peyton DeJardin: 8 kills, 2 blocks
- Arissa Carbonara: 8 kills
- Sophia Johnson: 7 digs
- SMU Mustangs:
- Malaya Jones: 15 kills, .448 hitting percentage
- Jordyn Schilling: 10 digs
- Maggie Croft: 4 blocks
The Mustangs demonstrated a powerful offensive strategy, out-hitting the Bears with an impressive .468 to .115 hitting percentage. This disparity in performance played a crucial role in the match’s outcome.
Set Breakdown
Set One saw intense competition, with Hayden scoring the first point for California. Despite a spirited effort, including four kills from Carbonara and timely blocks by Scott and DeJardin, SMU maintained control and narrowly escaped a late comeback.
In Set Two, Cal struggled further, scoring only point by point, despite DeJardin’s contribution of four kills. The third set saw the Bears muster a brief 3-0 run, but it was not enough to shift the momentum.
Next Challenge for the Bears
The Golden Bears will look to rebound in their next match against the No. 3 Pitt Panthers on November 16, 2023, at noon PT. Fans can stay updated on Cal volleyball through their social media platforms including X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
