CALIFORNIA (Sept. 1) – The California (PA) volleyball team opened the season with a pair of 3-2 victories over West Virginia Wesleyan and Ohio Dominican at the Convocation Center on Friday as part of the Vulcan Invitational.

RECORDS/SERIES
• The Vulcans begin the campaign with a pair of victories for the third time in the last five seasons.
• Cal opened the year at home for a consecutive season by hosting the Vulcan Invitational.
• The Vulcans won a pair of five-set victories on Friday after totaling five wins last year over five sets.

MATCH 1 NOTES: California d. West Virginia Wesleyan, 3-2 (25-17, 15-25, 29-27, 18-25, 15-9)
• Four players recorded double-digit kills against the Bobcats with sophomore Bella Buwawa pacing the team with 16 kills in her debut with the program.
• Junior Rachel Simon established a career high with 41 assists, becoming the first player since 2019 to collect at least 40 assists in a match.
• Junior Allie Droneberger registered a kill/dig double-double behind a team-high 21 digs and 11 kills.
• Sophomore Elisa Rugiero, an All-PSAC West selection last year, also posted a double-double against West Virginia Wesleyan with 10 kills and 15 digs.
• Senior Alayja Floyd tallied five blocks in the win, while Bella Buwawa collected four blocks (three solo).
• The Bobcats were picked fifth in the preseason MEC South Division poll after earning seven wins in 2022.
  MATCH 2 NOTES: California d. Ohio Dominican, 3-2 (25-23, 25-23, 15-25, 26-28, 16-14)
• Rugiero again recorded a double-double with a team-high 16 kills and 12 digs, plus added five blocks and three service aces.
• Droneberger added a double-double with 12 kills and a team-high 15 digs in the victory.
• Simon collected 40 assists and 10 digs against the Panthers for her first career assist/dig double-double.
• Floyd finished with seven blocks, while junior Sophie Johnson added four blocks on Friday.
• Ohio Dominican was chosen fourth in the preseason G-MAC South Division poll following a 12-win campaign last year.
 
NEXT
• Cal hosts Bloomsburg on the final day of the Vulcan Invitational at the Convocation Center tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m.