8-3,0-0Big West
Utah
7-3,0-0Big 12
Mustang Volleyball Shocks No. 20 Utah in Upset Sweep
9/19/2025 11:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — In a commanding display at Mott Athletics Center on Friday evening, Cal Poly delivered a stunning sweep (25-14, 25-18, 25-19) over No. 20 Utah.
The Mustangs dominated nearly every facet of the match, improving their early-season record to 8-3 and handing the Utes (now 7-3) a decisive defeat.
This marks Cal Poly’s third sweep over a Power Four opponent this season. The last time the Mustangs defeated a ranked non-conference opponent was also Utah, then No. 16, back in 2019.
Cal Poly set the tone immediately in the first set, launching a nearly unstoppable offensive onslaught. They recorded 15 kills against just one error, hitting an astounding .467 as a team. Their precision overwhelmed the Utes, who never found their rhythm, and the Mustangs cruised to a 25-14 win, matching their most dominant set performance of the season.
Utah tightened its defense in the second set, but Cal Poly’s attack remained potent. The Mustangs racked up 14 kills and capitalized on Utah’s errors to secure a 25-18 victory and a commanding 2-0 match lead.
The final set was the most competitive, featuring 10 tie scores. Although Utah held a brief early lead, Cal Poly’s resilience proved to be the difference. The Mustangs grinded out a 25-19 win, clinching the sweep on back-to-back Utah errors, a fitting end to a match defined by relentless pressure from the Mustangs.
As a team, Cal Poly is hitting a remarkable .294 this season, a mark that ranks in the nation’s top 20 and leads the Big West by more than fifty points. Friday’s performance marked the seventh time this year the Mustangs have hit above .300.
Though the victory was a complete team effort, several players delivered standout performances:
Emma Fredrick was the offensive linchpin for the second straight night, leading all Mustangs with 11 kills while adding 9 digs.
Chloe Leluge turned in the most efficient performance of the night, recording 8 kills on 12 swings without an error for a spectacular .667 hitting percentage. The sophomore middle blocker now ranks third in the conference with a .377 season hitting percentage.
Emme Bullis distributed 29 assists while contributing across the board with 3 kills, a service ace, 8 digs, and a block assist.
Annabelle Thalken delivered a well-rounded performance with 7 kills and 3 block assists.
Kendall Beshear added 8 kills and 2 service aces.
Defensively, Elif Hurriyet, making her first home start of the season, anchored the back row with a match-high 15 digs.
Charlotte Kelly led the blocking effort with five block assists.
The Mustangs close the SLO Classic on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. against future Big West opponent Cal Baptist. A win would extend Cal Poly’s streak to six matches heading into the start of conference play next week.
