Mustangs Come Up Just Short in Pair of Matches at First Day of Center of Effort Challenge

Friday, April 14

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

1:45 P.M.

TCU

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

Mustangs Come Up Just Short in Pair of Matches at First Day of Center of Effort Challenge

4/14/2023 9:40:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Playing a pair of ranked foes, including the No. 1 ranked team in the country, to kick off the Center of Effort Challenge, Cal Poly beach volleyball came up just short in both of its matches Friday at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex. The Mustangs fell to No. 1 TCU, 4-1, and No. 19 Pepperdine, 3-2. Cal Poly's No. 3 pair of senior Delaney Peranich and graduate Brooke Golik went a perfect 2-0 on the day, improving their record together to 14-8 and are now on a four-match win streak. Before their second match of the day against No. 19 Pepperdine, the Mustangs honored seven players for their senior night ceremony. Peranich, Golik, Jayelin Lombard, Susie Lloyd, Kalee Graff, Erika Foreman, and Josie Ulrich each were celebrated as they are participating in the final home event of their careers. Starting its day against No. 1 TCU, who came into the match unbeaten at 28-0, the Horned Frogs showed why they are ranked as the top team in nation with straight set wins at the No. 4 and No. 5 spots to kick things off. They then later clinched the dual with wins at the No. 2 and No. 1 spots. Peranich and Golik finished the dual on a high note for the Mustangs, beating the Horned Frogs' No. 3 pair of Sutton MacTavish and Maria Gonzalez in a three set thriller, 15-21, 22-20, 20-18. A few hours later against the No. 19 Waves, Cal Poly found itself in a barn burner of a match that was filled with high drama. Pepperdine got on the board first with a win at the No. 4 spot before a straight sets win by Peranich and Golik at the No. 3 spot tied things up at 1-1. The Mustangs' No. 2 duo of Lombard and junior Piper Naess gave Cal Poly a 2-1 lead in the dual after winning their match 21-14, 12-21, 15-13 over Lexi McLeod and Savannah Standage. It then came down to pairs 1 and 5, both of which went three sets. At the No. 1 spot, it was sophomore Piper Ferch and freshman Izzy Martinez battling back-and-forth but came up just two points short in the third, falling 21-18, 15-21, 13-15. Cal Poly's No. 5 pair of Graff and freshman Emma Zuffelato saw each of their first two points decided by two points before falling in the third 15-9 as Pepperdine sealed the dual victory. The Mustangs will face No. 3 UCLA Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex in their final match of pool play. They will then play a fourth match later on in the day with the day and time depending on the outcomes of theirs and other teams morning matches.