SANTA CLARA \u2014 For the first time since Aug. 30, the California Golden Bears (5-1) played a match in their home state. In what was their first of two matches in the Santa Clara Mission Classic, the Bears took on the San Diego State Aztecs (4-2).<\/p>\n
The two teams played a tightly contested first set that saw eight ties and three different lead changes, but ultimately, Cal pulled off the 25-21 victory. However, the Bears found their groove in the second, taking the lead and never relinquishing it. The second set ended with an emphatic joust win at the net by freshman Anna Flores<\/a>, allowing the Bears to win 25-20.<\/p>\n The third set was much more similar to the opening one, as the teams were all knotted up seven different times, with three lead changes as well. San Diego State went up 24-21, but the Bears were able to cut the lead to one before the Aztecs secured their first set win.<\/p>\n In the fourth, Cal had a 24-22 lead with a chance to end the match, but the Aztecs stormed back to not only tie it up, but take the set.<\/p>\n To start the fifth set, Cal looked much more like the team we had seen in the first two. The Bears went up 4-0 thanks to a trio of aces from Flores, but the Aztecs didn’t fold. With the Bears jumping out to a 10-3 lead, San Diego State scored on six of the next eight possessions to make it 12-9. The Aztecs were able to get within one, but a service error and an Abby Zimmerman<\/a> kill sealed the win for Cal.<\/p>\n KEY FIGURES<\/p>\n 17 \u2014 The number of kills true freshman Abby Zimmerman<\/a> recorded, giving her three straight matches with 15+.<\/p>\n 4 \u2014 Cal’s winning streak following today’s victory.<\/p>\n