Cal Poly Volleyball Opens Big West Play This Week with Long Beach St, UC San Diego

Friday, September 22

Long Beach, CA

7 P.M.

Long Beach State

Cal Poly Volleyball Opens Big West Play This Week with Long Beach St, UC San Diego

9/21/2023 5:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After finishing up non-conference play last week at home, the Cal Poly volleyball team goes back on the road this week for the start of Big West play.

The Mustangs (6-6) will kick things off Friday against Long Beach State at 7 p.m., who Cal Poly for third with in the standings last year and who started off this year by beating No. 1 Texas. They then head further south Saturday to take on UC San Diego at 7 p.m.

Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+ and have live stats fans can follow online. Links to those can be found on the schedule page.

Cal Poly finished non-conference play with a 6-6 record, picking up wins over Saint Mary's, VCU, Nicholls State, Southern Miss, Sacramento State, and Nevada.

The Mustangs, who have finished in the top three of the Big West standings each of the last seven seasons, including winning it in 2017 and 2018, are seeking the program's fifth Big West title this season.

Cal Poly is 27-47 all-time against Long Beach State, who finished non-conference play with a 6-4 record. The Mustangs have won eight of the last 10 meetings.

The Tritons (8-4) are still a relatively new foe for Cal Poly as the Mustangs are 4-0 all-time since UC San Diego made the move to Division I a few years ago. The Tritons were 8-4 during non-conference play and are winners of their last four matches.

DEFENSE IS THE CALLING CARD: So far this season, it has been the Cal Poly's defense that has led them to wins. As a team, they rank 33rd in the nation in digs per set (15.96) and 46th in the nation in blocks per set (2.50).

Individually, libero Jolei Akima is 30th in the nation in digs per set at 4.83. Two weeks ago, she won her first career Big West Defensive Player of the Week award. Meanwhile, Amy Hiatt ranks 56th in the country in blocks per set at 1.23.

YOUTH RULES: Cal Poly is one of four teams in Division I without a senior on its roster. The other three are Canisius, Baylor, and Syracuse.

UP NEXT: Following this week's matches, Cal Poly returns to Mott Athletics Center next week for a pair of Big West matches against UC Irvine Friday and Cal State Fullerton Saturday.