Tulsa
Mustangs Take on Tulsa, Arkansas, and Oklahoma at Wooo Pig Invitational
9/3/2025 4:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Before returning home to host a pair of tournaments in the friendly confines of Mott Athletics Center, the Cal Poly volleyball team (2-1) heads to Fayetteville with a major opportunity: to secure their first win against a Power-4 opponent since 2019.
The Mustangs begin the weekend with a neutral-site clash against Tulsa on Wednesday, Sept. 4th at 5 p.m. PT. The spotlight then shifts to a highly-anticipated rematch with host Arkansas on Thursday, Sept. 5th at 5 p.m. PT. The weekend concludes with a morning battle against Oklahoma on Friday, Sept. 6th at 10 a.m. PT.
Cal Poly rides a wave of momentum into Arkansas after a statement-making performance in Minnesota. The team announced its potential by snatching a first-set victory from a ranked Golden Gophers squad, dominating St. Thomas in a straight-set sweep, and orchestrating a thrilling reverse-sweep comeback to defeat Ball State.
The offense was a high-flying spectacle, powered by Kendall Beshear’s team-leading 41 kills. Her career-high 20 kills against Ball State fueled one of her two double-doubles on the weekend. She was brilliantly complemented by Emma Fredrick, who was a force all over the court with 40 kills (2nd on team), 33 digs (2nd), and a team-best 6 service aces. Annabelle Thalken chipped in 26 kills to a potent Mustang attack that racked up 155 total kills, a mark that ranks second in the Big West conference.
In the middle, the new duo of Chloe Leluge and Charlotte Kelly immediately showcased their formidable presence. Leluge was remarkably efficient, committing just two errors on 58 attacks to post the Big West's second-best hitting percentage (.414). While Leluge provided an offensive spark, both players stood tall at the net, tying for the team lead with 11 total blocks apiece.
Setter Emme Bullis distributed the ball with precision, averaging 8.58 assists per set while adding five service aces. Anchoring the defense, libero Ella Scott dug up a team-high 40 balls, an average of 3.64 per set that places her sixth in the conference. The back row also received strong contributions from London Haberfield (15 digs) and Elif Hurriyet, who averaged an impressive 3.67 digs in her limited action.
The marquee matchup against Arkansas offers a prime chance for redemption after the then no. 19 Razorbacks took a 3-1 decision in San Luis Obispo last season. That match will be the only one of Cal Poly's streamed for the weekend, hosted on SECN+. The weekend finale against Oklahoma then presents the Mustangs' only opportunity this season to face back-to-back Power-4 opponents, a formidable challenge reminiscent of last year's tournament in Alabama.
