For their fourth national championship run, the Bears aimed to travel early to Gulf Shores, Alabama, to acclimate to the unique environment that awaited them.
Cal has been a ranked contender in the bracket since 2022, but for head coach Megan Owusu, their preparedness is a part of the team’s culture.
“The last four years that we’ve gone it’s just been a total honor to be here,” said Owusu. “We’re very aware that only 16 teams get to earn the right to be at NCAAs in Gulf Shores.”
Though they have never made it past the quarterfinals, the Bears were strong contenders this year, entering the championships ranked No. 10. Owusu led the team to an impressive 27-10 regular season record, their best since 2023 – the year the Bears lost in the NCAA quarterfinals to UCLA.
Their first match was against No. 7 Texas, with whom they had a split record after a 3-2 loss at the East Meets West tournament and a 3-2 comeback win the next weekend at East vs. West.
This year, the Longhorns cut Cal’s NCAA championship dreams short.
On court three, Ella Sears and Alex Young-Gomez lost by only a slim 22-20 margin in the first set, but fell soundly in the second, losing 21-9 and granting Longhorns a 1-0 lead.
However, duo Jenna Colligan and Ella Dreibholz were able to even out the score on court five, winning 21-18 and 21-19.
With multiple matches being played at once, both teams were on their toes as the high-pressure environment grew even more intense.
Gauging lineups is a crucial part of Owusu’s job, especially in preparation for a championship tournament.
“We have all five courts going at once and so we evaluate the matchups with the team that we’re competing against and see where we can be most effective as coaches,” Owusu said. “But we trust all of our athletes to have the tools and the problem-solving abilities to not have a coach and also be able to respond when they do have a coach on their court.”
With the game tied one set to one, all eyes were on the final three courts still playing.
Next to finish was sophomore Emma Donley and Portia Sherman on court one, a pair that has been nothing but reliable throughout the season.
This weekend brought them their 28th pair win, and the record for most pair wins in program history.
They brought home a solid match win for the blue and gold, defeating Chloe Charles and Eva Liisa Kuivonen 21-17 and 21-15.
Once again, Texas fought back on court four, and Noa Sonneville and Macey Butler defeated Marilu Pally and Maile Somera in three hard-fought sets (21-18, 19-21, 17-15) to mark the first three-set match of the whole game.
Earlier this season in the East vs. West tournament, Sonneville and Butler had beaten Pally and Dreibholz in two quick sets (21-13, 21-14), but the lineup change wasn’t enough to keep Texas at bay.
This brought the game to a tie, leaving the game in the hands of Gia Fisher and Sierra Caffo. Both captains played throughout the season.
The match again went to three sets, where two out of the three were win-by-two. Cal was knocked out in a nailbiter third set, which Texas ultimately won 17-15.
The Longhorns came into the NCAA championship with a 28-9 record, nearly identical to Cal’s. But 2025 marked Texas’ first-ever appearance in the tournament. The Longhorns’ win over an established Cal team may have been a surprise, but it was ultimately evidence of a well-deserved spot in the bracket.
“I’m very proud of our team this year,” Owusu said, reflecting on the 2025 season. “Our captains established a great culture, and while it didn’t end the way we wanted, I’m super appreciative of the journey and the success that we did have throughout the season.”
As the team continues to grow — and prepares to break ground on a new facility — there is only gratitude for competition at NCAAs this year, and the day-to-day experiences between the players and coaches.
“I have a ton of respect for Texas, their program and their coaching staff,” Owusu said. “We split with them this season, so we were excited for a great battle and that’s exactly what it was.”
