No. 6 Mustangs Place Third at COE Challenge After Knocking Off No. 5 TCU

Saturday, April 13

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

10:15 A.M.

UCLA

Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics

No. 6 Mustangs Place Third at COE Challenge After Knocking Off No. 5 TCU

4/14/2024 7:51:00 AM | Beach Volleyball

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The success continued for Cal Poly beach volleyball Saturday at the final day of the Center of Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge. The No. 6 Mustangs came in third in the event after beating No. 5 TCU 4-1 following narrowly taking down No. 1 UCLA in a close 3-2 loss.

Starting the day against the top-ranked team in the country in No. 1 UCLA in very rainy and tough weather conditions, Cal Poly had the Bruins on the ropes.

UCLA got on the board first after winning at the No. 5 pair. Cal Poly tied it up after the No. 2 duo of Piper Ferch and Erin Inkseep won their match 21-16, 22-20. The Mustangs then took a 2-1 lead after the No. 4 pair of Piper Naess and Logan Walter won 21-19, 21-17.

The other two remaining matches went into third sets at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots. Both were very close as UCLA won at the No. 1 spot in the third 15-10. It all came down to the No. 3 spot where it was as close as you can get but the Mustangs came up just short, falling 15-13 in the third to give the Bruins the 3-2 victory.

Cal Poly then later matched up with No. 5 TCU in the third place dual of the COE Challenge. Playing against the Horned Frogs for the first time this season, the Mustangs put on an impressive showing.

The No. 3 duo of Lindsey Sparks and Quinn Perry were dominant, winning 21-19, 21-5 to put the Mustangs ahead 1-0.

Also winning in straight sets were the No. 1 pair of Ella Connor and Izzy Martinez, the No. 2 pair of Ferch and Inskeep, and the No. 4 pair of Naess and Walter to give Cal Poly its first win over a top-five team this season.

Now sitting at 23-5 on the season, the Mustangs will have one more regular season event next weekend when they head to New Orleans for four matches. There, they will face Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB, and Louisiana-Monroe, April 19 & 20.