Minnesota
Cal Poly Volleyball Starts Season Friday at Minnesota Tournament
8/27/2025 4:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Fresh off capturing the 2024 Big West Regular Season Title (22-9, 14-4 BWC), the Cal Poly volleyball team is set for a demanding road test to open the 2025 campaign.
The Mustangs launch their season with a marquee Friday matchup against the 11th-ranked Golden Gophers at 4 p.m. PT. They continue Saturday against St. Thomas at noon PT before closing the tournament against Ball State at 9 a.m. PT. This trip marks the program's first season-opening journey outside California since 2022.
Facing a significant reload, the Mustangs must replace 48% of their offensive production after graduating all three starting pin hitters. The foundation for rebuilding, however, remains strong. The core is anchored by 2025 Big West All-Preseason Team selections Emme Bullis, the starting setter, and middle blocker Chloe Leluge.
On the setting end of things, Bullis is supported by Big West Championship breakout Sam Callahan and true freshman Brooke Hansen.
The plan at the net was for Leluge to reunite with 2024 First Team honoree Breklyn Pulling, re-forming one of the conference's most formidable middle blocking duos. Unfortunately, Pulling will miss the season and take a medical redshirt due to offseason knee surgery. This development thrusts true freshman Charlotte Kelly into a starting role, with walk-on Katy Foley providing depth.
Veteran Annabelle Thalken is poised to lead the right-side attack. The competition for the two open hitter spots is fierce, featuring returners Emma Fredrick, Kendall Beshear, and Kayla Murdoch, who returns from a medical redshirt season, alongside newcomer Aveya Stone.
Defensively, the backcourt remains in expert hands with 2024 Big West All-Freshman Team libero Elif Hurriyet and defensive specialist London Haberfield. Ella Scott returns as a defensive and serving specialist, and newcomer Maren O’Farrell will also look to contribute.
Guiding the team through this new chapter is 2024 Big West Coach of the Year Caroline Walters, who enters her sixth full season at the helm and 17th with the program. She is supported by Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Jason Borchin (ninth season) and Assistant Coach Addie Picha (third season).
The Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll, released last Thursday, sets the stage for a thrilling conference race, narrowly predicting Cal Poly to finish second behind Hawai’i. In a testament to the expected parity, both teams received an identical number of first-place votes, with the Rainbow Wahine edging the Mustangs by a mere two points (94-92).
at #11 Minnesota - August 29, 4 p.m. (PT)
Cal Poly's opening tournament features a historic and daunting opponent: the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Mustangs trail the all-time series 1-2 and will confront a program riding the momentum of a recent NCAA Round of 32 appearance.
A perennial powerhouse and 2004 National Championship runner-up, Minnesota presents a steep challenge. Their offense runs through senior outside hitter Julia Hanson (473 kills in 2024), a Preseason Player of the Year watch list honoree, while Turkish junior libero Zeynep Palabiyik (3.86 digs/set) commands the back court, creating an intriguing Istanbul connection with Cal Poly's Elif Hurriyet.
Though the Mustangs' lone win came in 1980, they took the 11th-ranked Gophers to four sets in their last meeting in 2008. Now, under the guidance of proven winner Coach Keegan Cook, Minnesota looks to rebound from a season-opening 3-1 loss to No. 9 Texas A&M.
vs. St. Thomas - August 30, 12 p.m. (PT)
The St. Thomas Tommies, coming off a season where they tied for third in the Summit League (10-6), are again projected to finish third. They ride in with momentum, having won six of their final seven matches in 2024.
The Tommies' offense returns three of its four primary hitters from last season, who together accounted for 57% of the team's kills: junior outside Ellie Gustafson and senior pins Megan Wetter and Tezra Rudzitis. Wetter also led the team in blocking (1.07 per set). The defense is anchored by senior libero Ella Voegele, a top-50 national leader in digs (4.77 per set) last year.
Located just four miles from the University of Minnesota, the Tommies will play a practical home weekend before not returning to the state until late September.
vs. Ball State - August 31, 9 a.m. (PT)
Ball State assembled a strong 22-10 record in 2024, narrowly missing an NCAA postseason bid after a tough MAC Championship Final loss to Western Michigan.
The Cardinals' offense remains a potent threat, headlined by 2024 AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year Carson Tyler. The standout averaged 3.78 kills per set and recorded 20+ kills in six matches. She's joined by returning pin hitters Aniya Kennedy and Madison Buckley, who each added over 200 kills last season.
At the net, junior middle Gwen Crull brings a lethal blocking presence (1.1 blocks per set). The defense will be anchored by sophomore libero Sophie Ledbetter, who averaged 3.68 digs per set in her debut campaign.
