The University of California, Berkeley’s California Golden Bears women’s volleyball team lost 3-1 to the No. 3 Louisville Cardinals on October 8, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won the first two sets 25-17 each before the Golden Bears battled back to take the third set 25-23, handing Louisville its first ACC set loss of the season. Louisville secured the match with a 25-18 win in the fourth set.
Senior middle blocker Sawyer Thomsen set a career-high with 16 kills, leading California’s offensive effort. Freshman setter Anna Flores contributed 44 assists, facilitating the Golden Bears’ attacks throughout the match.
With the loss, California fell to 12-4 overall and 2-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Louisville improved to 15-2 overall and maintained a perfect 5-0 conference record. California has faced multiple top-five opponents this season, losing three of their four matches against such teams. Notably, California is one of only two ACC teams to have taken a set off Louisville this season.
California will continue ACC play on the road against Notre Dame on October 11 at 10:00 a.m.
CSB Take
The Golden Bears demonstrated resilience by handing Louisville its first ACC set loss this season, indicating their capability to challenge elite competition. Senior leadership from Sawyer Thomsen combined with the promising performance of freshman Anna Flores provides a foundation to build upon. Maintaining consistent competitiveness against ACC powerhouses will be vital for California as they prepare for their upcoming matches.
Source: Original report
