Saturday, April 30
San Luis Obispo, Calif.
11:30 A.M.
3
vs
2
Hawai'i
Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Cal Poly Defeats No. 9 Hawai’i to Claim Third Straight Big West Title
4/30/2022 3:41:00 PM | Beach Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After beating Hawai'i 3-2 in the championship match of the Big West Tournament Saturday at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex, the Cal Poly beach volleyball team won its third straight Big West title to clinch the automatic bid to next week's NCAA Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala.
This is the third straight year in which the No. 14 Mustangs (23-16) defeated the Rainbow Wahine the championship match of the Big West Tournament as well as their fourth win in five matches over Hawai'i. This was also the first year in which Cal Poly hosted the Big West Tournament at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex.
It was an electric atmosphere at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex as hundreds of people surrounded the facility to watch the championship match. Cal Poly's No. 4 pair of redshirt senior Mariah Whalen and sophomore Piper Naess, who finished the tournament a perfect 4-0, got the Mustangs on the board first with a 21-14, 25-23 win. They are now 5-0 this season as a pair.
The No. 3 Mustang pair of freshman Peyton Dueck and grad student Addison Hermstad, who also went 4-0 in the tournament, then put Cal Poly ahead 2-0 after winning 21-14, 21-15. They head into the NCAA Tournament with a 21-5 record together this year.
The No. 9 Rainbow Wahine (24-16) got their first point of the match after their No. 5 pair won in straight sets 21-18, 21-17.
Needing just one more point to clinch the championship, Cal Poly's All-American No. 1 pair of redshirt senior Tia Miric and freshman Ella Connor came up clutch with a gritty 21-14, 25-23 win to seal the victory for the Mustangs. They are now a team-leading 26-12 together heading into tournament, which is the second-most wins in a single season by a Cal Poly pair in program history.
With the NCAA Tournament berth officially clinched, Cal Poly will now wait to see which seed it receives as well as who they will face. The NCAA selection show is slated for 6 p.m. PT Saturday on NCAA.com. This year's tournament is the first time it's been expanded to 16 teams. There are eight automatic bids and eight at-large bids (two East, two West, four wild card) up for grabs this year. The 16 teams will be seeded 1-16 with all teams playing Wednesday, May 4 in a single-elimination format. The eight winners will move on to play Friday, May 6-Sunday, May 8 in a double-elimination format.
Photos courtesy of Owen Main | www.fansmanship.com
The No. 3 Mustang pair of freshman Peyton Dueck and grad student Addison Hermstad, who also went 4-0 in the tournament, then put Cal Poly ahead 2-0 after winning 21-14, 21-15. They head into the NCAA Tournament with a 21-5 record together this year.
The No. 9 Rainbow Wahine (24-16) got their first point of the match after their No. 5 pair won in straight sets 21-18, 21-17.
Needing just one more point to clinch the championship, Cal Poly's All-American No. 1 pair of redshirt senior Tia Miric and freshman Ella Connor came up clutch with a gritty 21-14, 25-23 win to seal the victory for the Mustangs. They are now a team-leading 26-12 together heading into tournament, which is the second-most wins in a single season by a Cal Poly pair in program history.
With the NCAA Tournament berth officially clinched, Cal Poly will now wait to see which seed it receives as well as who they will face. The NCAA selection show is slated for 6 p.m. PT Saturday on NCAA.com. This year's tournament is the first time it's been expanded to 16 teams. There are eight automatic bids and eight at-large bids (two East, two West, four wild card) up for grabs this year. The 16 teams will be seeded 1-16 with all teams playing Wednesday, May 4 in a single-elimination format. The eight winners will move on to play Friday, May 6-Sunday, May 8 in a double-elimination format.Photos courtesy of Owen Main | www.fansmanship.com
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