Amber Aniston+ • October 17, 2025

Cal Pulls Off Stunning Reverse Sweep Over No. 14 Miami in Berkeley

Golden Bears Overcome Two-Set Deficit to Earn First Win Over Ranked Opponent Since 2020 


BERKELEY, Calif. — It took grit, adjustments, and sheer determination, but on Thursday night at Haas Pavilion, the California Golden Bears produced one of the most memorable volleyball victories in recent program history. Down two sets to none against the No. 14 Miami Hurricanes, Cal stormed back to win 3–2 (16–25, 14–25, 25–19, 25–22, 15–12), completing a reverse sweep in front of an energized home crowd. 


The victory marked Cal’s first win over a ranked team since 2020 and its first over a top-15 opponent since 2015. It also snapped a four-match losing streak and secured the team’s second reverse sweep of the season. The Bears improved to 6–11 overall and 3–4 in ACC play, while Miami dropped to 15–3 and 5–2


Cal’s victory was built on defensive resilience and offensive poise. The Bears out-hit Miami .210 to .163 and out-blocked the Hurricanes 14–7. Senior middle blocker Mikayla Hayden posted a double-double with 12 kills on .450 hitting and 10 blocks, while outside hitter Peyton DeJardin led the way with 19 kills and five blocks. Freshman setter Maria Știrbu ran the offense with 45 assists and added 10 digs, sharing the team lead with classmate Francesca Popescu


Despite a rough start, Cal steadily improved its efficiency across the match, hitting .080 in the opening set and closing the fifth with an impressive .538 clip


 


Hurricanes Start Strong 


The Hurricanes entered the contest looking every bit the No. 14 team in the nation, riding a 15-match winning streak earlier in the season and boasting one of the country’s most explosive offenses. National kills-per-set leader Flormarie Heredia Colón set the tone early, racking up kills from all areas of the court. 


Miami jumped out to a 5–0 lead to open the first set and never looked back. Heredia Colón’s power from the left side combined with strong serving runs from Dahlia Wilson and Mariam Mushkudiani gave the Hurricanes a commanding 18–8 lead. Cal responded with a brief 6–1 surge, fueled by Hayden’s blocking and a kill from DeJardin, but Miami closed it out 25–16


The second set followed a similar pattern. Cal managed to stay close early, trailing 10–8 before Miami went on another decisive run. Wilson and middle blocker Logan Wiley combined for multiple kills and blocks during an 8–1 stretch that widened the gap to 18–9. The Hurricanes finished with a .400 hitting percentage in the frame, while Cal struggled to find rhythm offensively and fell 25–14


At that point, Miami seemed poised for a routine sweep. But the Golden Bears had other plans. 


 


Momentum Shifts in the Third 


The third set marked a turning point. Head coach Jen Malcom made critical adjustments, using all three defensive specialists — Popescu, Sophia Johnson, and Elise Lau — on the court simultaneously for the first time all season. The change immediately paid off as Cal’s defense tightened, holding Miami to just .037 hitting in the set. 


After trading points early, Cal took command with a 7–1 scoring run capped by a kill from Hayden and an ace from Știrbu. The Bears maintained steady control, extending their lead to 22–14 before the Hurricanes mounted a brief rally. DeJardin’s powerful cross-court shot sealed the set 25–19, keeping Cal alive and energizing the crowd. 


The defense was key during the comeback. Hayden and Dominique Phills combined for critical blocks, and Popescu’s back-row play helped neutralize Miami’s powerful serves. 


 


Cal Evens the Match in the Fourth 


The fourth set delivered the night’s most intense exchanges, featuring nine ties and constant momentum swings. Miami once again started strong, using back-to-back aces from Wilson to build a 6–3 lead. But Cal’s composure held. 


The Bears clawed back behind the balanced attack of DeJardin, Hayden, and Ashley Li, who each found ways to exploit gaps in Miami’s coverage. At 19–19, following a timeout by Miami, the Bears surged ahead on a 6–3 run. Hayden capped the set with her 11th kill of the night, clinching the 25–22 win and forcing a decisive fifth. 


Cal’s offense showed remarkable balance — four players finished the set with multiple kills, while the defense limited Miami’s Heredia Colón to her lowest efficiency stretch of the night. 


 


Bears Seal the Comeback 


The fifth set was all about execution. Li set the tone immediately with a kill on the first point and went on to hit .833 in the frame, finishing with five kills and no errors. Her 10th of the match gave Cal an 8–6 lead as the teams switched sides. 


Miami fought back to tie it at 8–8 with kills from Amina N’Diaye and Heredia Colón, but Cal’s defense once again proved the difference. Hayden and freshman Annemarie O’Gara combined for a pivotal block to make it 14–9. After a Miami serve sailed long two points later, Haas Pavilion erupted as Cal completed the reverse sweep 15–12


For a team that had lost four straight and faced a nationally ranked opponent, the comeback embodied persistence and belief. 


 


Key Stats and Highlights 


Cal Team Stats: 14 total blocks, .210 hitting percentage, and a season-high .538 efficiency in the final set. 


Miami Team Stats: 50 kills, 10 aces, and seven blocks; Heredia Colón led all players with 28 kills and three aces. 


Hayden’s Double-Double: 12 kills and 10 blocks, her second double-double in three matches. 


DeJardin’s Leadership: 19 kills, five blocks, and consistent production in every phase. 


Știrbu’s Playmaking: 45 assists and 10 digs; steady ball distribution kept Miami’s blockers off balance. 


Cal’s defensive turnaround was perhaps the night’s most impressive storyline. After allowing Miami to hit .400 in the second set, the Bears limited the Hurricanes to .120 combined over the final three frames. 


 


A Program-Building Win 


The victory marked several milestones for Cal volleyball. It was the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 15 Stanford in the shortened 2020–21 season, and the first over a top-15 foe since toppling No. 14 Arizona State in 2015. 


Beyond the numbers, the match carried emotional weight. The win came during Cal’s annual Dig Pink® contest, which raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research in partnership with the Side-Out Foundation. The Bears’ resilience on the court mirrored the spirit of the event — a night dedicated to fight and perseverance. 


It was also a historic week for Cal volleyball, as alumna Hana Cutura, a 2009 Pac-10 Player of the Year and three-time All-American, was inducted into the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame. Cutura, who remains the only player in program history to surpass 2,000 career kills, was honored before Saturday’s match against Florida State. 


 


Looking Ahead 


The Golden Bears will look to build on their momentum when they host Florida State (8–8, 2–5 ACC) on Saturday afternoon. The Seminoles feature a mix of youth and experience, led by Division I top-25 hitter Anne Henke and libero Mio Yamamoto, who ranks among the ACC’s top ten in digs per set. 


Meanwhile, Miami will regroup for a tough road test against No. 5 Stanford on Sunday. Despite the setback, the Hurricanes remain one of the nation’s most balanced and dangerous teams, ranking second in Division I in service aces per set and top 25 in blocks. 


For Cal, though, Thursday’s win was about rediscovering belief. Against long odds, the Golden Bears turned a near-certain defeat into a defining triumph — one that may well mark the turning point of their 2025 season. 

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