Sam Crosson

Crosson had been with the Bears since 2019, and has since taken the Bears to a 35-78 overall record. Crosson had previously been an assistant coach with the program for two years in 2010 and 2011.

If Cal can’t take care of business, especially against the drowning Beavers, then the season is all but a wash. But a win or two will propel the Bears forward, and stave off hibernation for just a little longer.

In their eight season losses, the Bears have only won an even number set three times. And that trend continued during this week’s losses to Arizona and Arizona State.

While Cal volleyball started as well as one could against tough competition, the blue and gold ultimately dropped five straight sets en route to a 0-2 start to conference play.

The Pac-12 conference is certainly an unforgiving powerhouse when it comes to volleyball, and Cal’s two first games coming against top teams in the conference are only the beginning of the tough journey that lies before them.

The Bears will need to take all the lessons they have learned in the preseason — especially the ability to push through the tough sets — into their demanding conference schedule if they are to find success.

After a resounding sweep of Nevada, the tournament host lost its winning streak as it was downed by NDSU and Butler in back-to-back games.

While the only revenge the football team can exact on the desert school is flexing its academic might, Cal volleyball has a chance for a much more tangible payback. The Bears will invite the Wolfpack into their lair Friday as part of the Cal tournament.

Coming off the Tulane Green Wave tournament in which they doubled their win total from the previous season, Cal Volleyball is attempting to ride that wave of success back to the Pacific — to be specific, the Pacific Tournament.

Last season was unique in the sense that it didn’t even come close to representing the program’s ability to dominate the court.