Northern Colorado
Mustangs Host Mustang Invitational, First of Two Straight Home Tournaments
9/10/2025 2:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After two weeks and six matches on the road to open the 2025 season, the Cal Poly Mustangs (3-3) are finally coming home.
The team is set to defend their court at the Mustang Invitational, the first of two consecutive home tournaments at Mott Athletics Center.
The action kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. with the season's home opener against Northern Colorado. This marks the second straight season, and the fourth time in the last six years, that these two teams have clashed.
Last year, the Mustangs staged a dramatic reverse sweep to defeat the Bears (19-25, 27-29, 25-22, 25-22, 15-10) at a tournament hosted by Wichita State. Cal Poly currently leads the all-time series 3-1.
The homestand continues Friday at 6 p.m. as the Mustangs welcome the California Golden Bears for their 17th all-time meeting and first since 2013. Although Cal was recently swept by #1 Nebraska, they enter the match with wins against San Francisco and San Diego State from their own hosted tournament in Berkeley.
On Saturday, Mott Athletics Center will host a neutral-site match between Cal and San Jose State, giving the Mustangs a day of rest before they return to action. The tournament concludes Sunday at 3 p.m. when Cal Poly takes on the San Jose State Spartans.
The Mustangs are riding high after experiencing all the highs and lows of a Power-4 tournament last weekend at the Wooo Pig Invitational. Despite finishing 1-2, the team took a set off (RV) Oklahoma and delivered a stunning sweep over host Arkansas.
Cal Poly’s dominant straight-sets victory over the Razorbacks (25-14, 25-19, 25-21) on Friday was historic, marking the first time since 2007 (against Purdue) that the Mustangs have defeated a Power-4 opponent in three sets.
Annabelle Thalken emerged as Cal Poly's most reliable and efficient offensive weapon, averaging 3.3 kills per set with a combined hitting percentage of .382. Her standout .778 performance in the sweep against Arkansas ranks among the best outings by a Mustang hitter in recent memory.
Chloe Leluge also had a monster weekend at the net, averaging 1.5 blocks per set (15 total) and moving into a tie for second place in the Big West for total blocks (26).
Elsewhere, as the Mustangs continue refining their lineup in search of a consistent identity, several individual performances have sparked excitement and provided a glimpse into the team's potential.
On the pins, Kendall Beshear (3.14 K/S) and Emma Fredrick (2.91 K/S) have solidified their starting roles alongside the formidable Annabelle Thalken. However, Aveya Stone is demanding more attention after a promising performance at the Wooo Pig Invitational (1.14 K/S).
The offense continues to run through team captain and setter Emme Bullis (7.77 A/S), but 2024 Big West Championship star Samantha Callahan has made a strong case for more time, already contributing 33 assists with her limited reps.
The defensive effort has been a collective force. In the middle, true freshman Charlotte Kelly has been a revelation alongside the dominant Chloe Leluge, already racking up 19 total blocks (0.86 per set). Meanwhile, the back court is locked down by a deep and effective rotation of London Haberfield (1.18 DIG/S), Elif Hurriyet (2.75 DIG/S), and Ella Scott (3.33 DIG/S).
