STANFORD – It didn't take long for the No. 14 Cal beach volleyball team's new-found depth to pay dividends.

The Bears registered clutch wins from the back end of its lineup Saturday and notched season-opening 3-2 wins over Pacific and Saint Mary's at the Stanford Tournament.

Cal's all-freshman No. 4 pair of Nicole Anderson and Iya Lindahl won both of their matches in their college debuts, and the No. 5 duo of junior Teya Neff and freshman Bridget Gustafson also won twice.

"One thing our program focuses on is that we need to be solid from top to bottom," Cal head coach Meagan Schmitt said. "The 5s match is just as important, if not more important, than the 1s match. The girls have really embraced that concept and executed it beautifully today."

Cal won its first three matches against the Tigers before holding on for the win. After splitting the first two matches against the Gaels, the Bears scored a pivotal victory by Anderson and Lindahl, 20-22, 21-17, 15-12 to move in front. The Bears' No. 2 pair of sophomores Grace Campbell and Olivia Rodberg clinched the dual.

Anderson broke a 12-12 tie in the third set with a stuff block to put Cal in front to stay.

"It was just so much fun," Anderson said. "After that block I looked at Iya, and we knew we had the match. I was just so happy that I could help the team win."

The Bears will be back at Stanford for the second day of the tournament Sunday against Cal Poly and Santa Clara.

 
No. 14 Cal 3, Pacific 2
No. 1: Lexi Elman-Andie Shelton (UOP) def. Mia Merino-Bryce Bark, 15-21, 21-17, 15-13
No. 2: Katrin Gotterba-Maycie LaBass (UOP) def. Olivia Rodberg-Grace Campbell, 21-14, 14-21, 15-10
No. 3: Jessica Gaffney-Camille Stepanof (Cal) def. Emily Baptista-Taylor Poncetta, 17-21, 21-13, 15-10
No. 4: Nicole-Anderson-Iya Lindahl (Cal) def. Janie Feldsher-Alex Holt, 21-19, 21-19
No. 5: Teya Neff-Bridget Gustafson (Cal) def. Ashlyn Fleming-Skylar Wine, 21-19, 21-12
 
No. 14 Cal 3, Saint Mary's 2
No. 1: Lindsey Knudsen-Payton Rund (SMC) def. Mia Merino-Bryce Bark, 21-18, 21-11
No. 2: Olivia Rodberg-Grace Campbell (Cal) def. Mary Hernandez-Lindsey Calvin, 21-10, 21-15
No. 3: Emily Bible-Sarah Chase (SMC) def. Jessica Gaffney-Camille Stepanof, 21-17, 21-23, 15-8
No. 4: Nicole Anderson-Iya Lindahl (Cal) def. Alexis Salmons-Alexsa Parker, 20-22, 21-17, 15-12
No. 5: Teya Neff-Bridget Gustafson (Cal) def. Madi Wilkerson-Sienna Young, 21-15, 21-16