Long Beach State
Cal Poly Falls to Long Beach State in Big West Tournament Semifinals
4/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The fifth-seeded Cal Poly beach volleyball team eliminated third-seeded CSUN before falling to second-seeded Long Beach State in the semifinal round of the Big West Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament at the Beach Blvd. Courts on Saturday afternoon. Top-seeded Hawai'i completed an undefeated run through the tournament, knocking off Long Beach State in the finals to collect the conference's first-ever championship.
Cal Poly beach volleyball won three matches in the tournament, including two elimination matches, knocking off a pair of opponents on the way to a third-place finish.
Against CSUN, Cal Poly beat the Matadors, 3-2 to stave off elimination for the second time during the tournament and advanced to face the 49ers. Cal Poly sophomore Taylor Nelson (on left) and freshman Adlee Van Winden (on right) defeated CSUN's No. 2 pairing of Julie Haake and Maddie Leiphardt in two sets, 21-15 and 21-12, while the No. 3 pair for the Mustangs, junior Anna Gorman and sophomore Savannah Niemen beat Erin Indermill and Aeryn Owens, 21-17 and 21-15.
Cal Poly sophomore Raeann Greisen and freshman Katherine Brouker outlasted Rachel Gam and Kristey Markle from the fourth position, 21-13 and 21-16, as the Mustangs eliminated the Matadors.
During the semifinal round, Cal Poly's Nelson and Van Winden provided the only point for the Mustangs during a 21-19 and 22-20 victory over Jenelle Hudson and Zoe Konstantopoulou. The host-49ers captured the other four pair matchups to overwhelm the Mustangs, 4-1.
Cal Poly wrapped up its third season of competition at the Division I level with a program-best eight victories, eliminating a pair of opponents in the tournament along the way (No. 3 seed CSUN, No. 6 Sacramento State).
The 2017 Big West Conference Tournament Championship will be hosted by Cal Poly, with the Pismo Beach Volleyball Courts designated as the next championship location.
The 2017 season for Cal Poly beach volleyball begins next March, with the indoor volleyball season beginning in September 2016. Be sure to follow Cal Poly volleyball on Twitter (@CalPolyVolley) during the offseason and check the volleyball home page for schedule information.
