LEXINGTON, Kentucky – The Cal beach volleyball team will start 2021 where they ended 2020, ranked ninth in the AVCA Coaches Poll. This is the third straight year that Cal has been selected amongst the top 12 in the nation to start the year.
 
This is the top preseason ranking in school history and tied for the highest that Cal has been ranked at any point of the year, with their season-ending placement on last year's coaches' poll. The Bears were ranked No. 12 prior to the 2019 season and 11th heading into the 2020 campaign.
 
Last season, Cal compiled a record of 9-1 and ended the season on a nine-match winning streak before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the Bears' season in March. Cal's last match was a win over No. 5 USC, only the Bears' second win over a top-five team.
 
The Bears return a majority of last year's squad, including both members of Cal's No. 2 and No. 4 pairs in Caroline Schafer, Jordan Polo, Ainsley Radell and Maddie Micheletti. Both of those pairs racked up a 9-1 record last season. Cal also returns All-American Mima Mirkovic and No. 3 pair standout Alexia Inman to the squad.