Cal Volleyball Sweeps Rival No. 18 Stanford For First Time in Program History

For the first time in program history, the Cal Golden Bears have swept rival No. 18 Stanford.

Amid the best season Cal’s volleyball program has seen in five years, two back-to-back losses to No. 23 North Carolina and Duke had put a damper on the excitement. With a drought against Stanford dating back 11 matches, the outcome could have been grim, but in front of a packed home crowd in Hass Pavilion, the unthinkable was done.

The Golden Bears won 25-23 and 25-20 before a thrilling 27-25 third-set victory. The match had 19 ties and seven lead changes throughout, with the team collectively hitting .375 to start and .317 in the second and third sets.

Brooms are out in Berkeley and it's not for Halloween 👻 👀 pic.twitter.com/5A4J5xyTEt
— Cal Volleyball (@CalVolleyball) October 29, 2026

Abby Zimmerman put up 12 kills, Grace Agolli had 11, while setter Anna Flores finished with a double-double, posting 37 assists and 22 digs to go with five kills and an ace. She became the first Division I setter to record 30 or more assists and 20 or more digs in a match.

Flores finished the night hitting .333, Zimmerman .345, Agolli .360, and Cari Bohn .368.

The win now moves Cal to 16-6 on the season, marking the first time since 2023 that the program has surpassed 15 wins. The victory over Stanford also marks the team's first ranked win since October 2025, when the Golden Bears took down Miami.

“Words cannot describe how I am feeling,” head coach Jen Malcom said in a postgame video. “This was fantastic. We needed this win for our group. I am so proud of them, and we could not have done it without all of the fans who were here. We want to see Haas packed like this for the rest of the year. Our team deserves it.”

Big win over No. 18 Stanford, and a BIG thanks to the Bear faithful for your support 🐻💙 pic.twitter.com/iKyRMgMtWK
— Cal Volleyball (@CalVolleyball) October 29, 2026

After celebrating with a Gatorade bath in the locker room, the Bears have to lock in immediately as they hit the road to face Stanford again on Friday. If they are able to sweep the series, it will be the first time the program has done so since 2011.

First sweep over your biggest rival in program history calls for a Gatorade bath 🌲🪓#GoBears🐻 pic.twitter.com/3UdixcfTg1
— Cal Volleyball (@CalVolleyball) October 29, 2026

Stanford is 88-13 all-time against Cal. The Cardinal previously won 11 straight against the Golden Bears, including two brutal sweeps in both meetings in 2025. Cal’s most recent win only came in 2020, which was a five-set win at home.

This season, the Golden Bears' biggest change is the addition of seven players, each bringing unique strengths to the program. Freshman Zimmerman entered as the No. 30 recruit in the class of 2026 and was an All-Region honoree by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Zimmerman and Flores have each been in the starting lineup every match and have combined for 25 double doubles this season, while Zimmerman is fourth in the ACC in aces at 40.

As for Flores, her 857 assists are sixth in the ACC. Transfer Bohm has become a staple in the lineup after she recorded a program-record 13 total blocks in Cal's loss to Saint Mary's.

Following Stanford on Friday, Cal will face more ACC action against Florida State and Miami to begin in November.

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