Cal Poly Ranked Second in Big West, Bullis and Leluge Recognized
8/21/2025 12:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Released by the Big West Conference on Thursday at noon, the Mustangs Volleyball program ranked second in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll while setter Emme Bullis and middle blocker Chloe Leluge were named to the seven-player Preseason Coaches’ Team.
Despite earning five first-place votes in the Preseason Coaches’ poll, tied with Hawai'i, the Mustangs were narrowly predicted to finish second, 92 points to the Rainbow Wahine's 94. UC Davis landed in third with 75 points, followed by a fourth-place prediction for UC Santa Barbara (73), which received the eleventh and final first-place vote. Long Beach State (68) completed the top five, with the remaining conference opponents all receiving under 60 points.
As the defending Big West Regular Season Champion, Cal Poly charges into the new season with immense momentum. Their dominant 2024 campaign (22-9, 14-4 BWC) was defined by a conference-best 10-3 road record and an astounding 15 straight-set sweeps. Now, the Mustangs are hungry for more than a repeat; they are on a mission to capture the playoff championship and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid that has eluded them since 2019
Receiving five first-place votes and finishing second in total points in the preseason poll, especially after graduating key contributors from last year’s championship team, really speaks to the confidence our peers have in our program. We’ve worked hard to build a standard of consistency here at Cal Poly, and this recognition reflects the respect for the culture and effort our student-athletes continue to uphold.Cal Poly Volleyball Head Coach Caroline Walters
The engine of the Mustangs' offensive production, Emme Bullis, returns as team captain and the roster's most tenured player. Fresh off a career-high season of 10.27 assists-per-set (2nd in Big West), Bullis is rapidly approaching the coveted 4,000 career assists milestone, a feat only three other Mustangs in program history have ever achieved. Recognized as the Big West’s premier setter, she stands alone as the only one at her position named to the Preseason Coaches’ Team.
Chloe Leluge erupted as a true freshman sensation in 2024, swiftly securing a starting role and establishing herself as one of the conference's most lethal offensive weapons from the middle. Alongside blocking partner Breklyn Pulling, Leluge was instrumental in propelling the Mustangs to the top of the Big West with a .249 team hitting percentage, while she individually ranked second (.356) and fifth in blocks per set (0.97). Now a seasoned veteran, Leluge is poised to dominate the net once again and help anchor Cal Poly’s offense.
We’re excited to see both Emme Bullis and Chloe Leluge recognized on the preseason coaches’ poll. As returning all-conference honorees and proven leaders in their positions, they represent the strength and experience we’ll look to build around this season.Cal Poly Volleyball Head Coach Caroline Walters
The Mustangs are now just 11 days from launching their regular season with a competitive three-match tournament at Minnesota, beginning against the host Golden Gophers on Friday, August 29 at 4:00 p.m. (PT). The conference title defense kicks off at home roughly a month later, with a weekend series at Mott Athletics Center against CSUN (Sept. 26) and Cal State Bakersfield (Sept. 27).
As we enter the season, we will look to blend the experience of our returning players with the talent of some new faces. Our program is focused on continued growth and development, with the goal of playing our best volleyball when it matters most in late November.Cal Poly Volleyball Head Coach Caroline Walters
