No. 6 Mustangs Split Pair of Matches Against Top 10 Teams at Day One of COE Challenge

Friday, April 12

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

1:45 P.M.

Florida State

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

No. 6 Mustangs Split Pair of Matches Against Top 10 Teams at Day One of COE Challenge

4/12/2024 10:28:00 PM | Beach Volleyball

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Kicking off the annual Center of Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge, the Cal Poly beach volleyball team split its two matches Friday against top 10 opponents. The No. 6 Mustangs (22-4) came up just short against No. 4 Florida State, 3-2, before capping off the night with a 4-1 win over No. 10 LMU.

On a cold, overcast day at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Cal Poly's campus hosting seven other teams for the annual event, six of which are also top 10 teams, the Mustangs put on a strong show for the fans in attendance.

Against the No. 4 Seminoles, Cal Poly started out strong by winning the first sets on three of the five courts. At the No. 1 spot, the Mustangs' top duo of Ella Connor and Izzy Martinez got things started with a 21-18, 21-18 win to put Cal Poly ahead.

Florida State then got back-to-back points after winning at the No. 4 and No. 3 spots to take a 2-1 lead. The Mustangs tied it at 2-2 after the No. 5 pair of Piper Naess, Cal Poly's lone senior who was honored Friday for senior night, and Logan Walter got a 21-17, 14-21, 15-8 victory.

It all came down to the No. 2 pairs and a third set there. After the Mustangs took the first set 21-19, FSU took the second set 21-19 to force a third. In the third, it was back-and-forth and went into extra points before the Seminoles' duo just squeaked it out, 16-14 to seal the dual.

A few hours, Cal Poly was back on the sand to face the No. 10 Lions and bounced back strong. It was a close match with four of the five matches going three sets.

At the No. 2 spot, the duo of Piper Ferch and Erin Inkseep started off the dual with a 21-12, 21-17 win. LMU then won at the No. 1 spot before the Mustangs regained the lead after Madison Nichols and Abbey Reinard won at the No. 5 spot, 10-21, 21-19, 15-11.

The victory was sealed for Cal Poly after the No. 3 pair of Lindsey Sparks and Quinn Perry won their match 17-21, 21-15, 15-12.

The best moment of the night came at the end as the final win came from the No. 4 pair of Naess and Walter. Up 14-12, Naess on her senior night picked up a kill for the final point to seal the 4-1 dual win.

The Mustangs will face No. 1 UCLA Saturday at 10:15 a.m. for the final match of pool play. They will then play another match later in the day, with the time being determined by the result against the Bruins.