Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Weekly Mustang Roundup: September 8-14
9/8/2025 2:59:00 PM | General
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Oct 30, 2025 at 11 A.M.
Women's Basketball vs
Simpson University (Calif.)
Oct 31, 2025 at All Day
Men's Tennis vs
Jack Kramer Club Hidden Dual
Oct 31, 2025 at M: 10 A.M. / W: 11 A.M.
Cross Country at
Big West Championships
THIS WEEK IN MUSTANG ATHLETICS
- The roar returns to Alex G. Spanos Stadium this week as Mustang football kicks off its home slate against Western Oregon, combining the energy of Week of Welcome with a celebration of our Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Nipomo communities.
- The action continues at Mott Athletics Center, where women's volleyball hosts the Mustang Invitational, battling Northern Colorado, Cal, and San Jose State in their long-awaited home debut.
- Riding high from a decisive win over Air Force, men's soccer begins a crucial three-game homestand against San Francisco and Saint Mary's.
- The women's soccer team aims to finish their non-conference schedule flawlessly in a home match against Seattle.
- Women's golf tees off their 2025-26 campaign in New Mexico for the first of four fall tournaments.
#RIDEHIGH MOMENTS
WEEKLY SNEAK PEEK
Football Hosts Western Oregon During Week of Welcome
- Cal Poly fell over the weekend to No. 25 Utah, 63-9.
- In the game, Mustang kicker Noah Serna made a 51 yard field goal, tied for the fourth longest made kick in program history.
- Cal Poly now gets ready for its 2025 home opener this Saturday, Sept. 13 at 5pm against Division II Western Oregon at Mustang Memorial Field at Spanos Stadium.
- Free shirts will be given to the first 5,000 students at the game. Also new this year will be the first student raffle, which will see the winner receive free tuition money for a quarter. That will happen at each home game this season.
Volleyball Kicks Off Home Slate with First of Two Tournaments
- The volleyball program experienced all the highs and lows of a Power-4 non-conference tournament last weekend. Although finishing the Wooo Pig Invitational with a 1-2 record, the Mustangs took a set off (RV) Oklahoma and pulled off a stunning sweep over hosts Arkansas.
- Cal Poly blanked the Razorbacks (25-14, 25-19, 25-21) on Friday evening, which was the first time since 2007 against Purdue that the Mustangs defeated a Power-4 opponent in straight sets.
- Annabelle Thalken was undoubtedly Cal Poly's most reliable and efficient offensive weapon, averaging 3.3 kills per set and finishing with a combined hitting percentage of .382. Her standout .778 performance in the sweep against Arkansas was one of the best outings by a Mustang hitter in recent memory.
- Chloe Leluge also had a monster weekend at the net, securing 1.5 blocks per set (15 total), taking her to a second-place tie in the Big West for total blocks (26).
- Cal Poly now welcomes Northern Colorado, Cal, and San Jose State this weekend for the first of two home tournaments at Mott Athletics Center. The matches against Cal and San Jose State will both be streamed on ESPN+. A special tournament pack can be purchased for $20, which gives access to all three Cal Poly games and can be found HERE.
Women's Soccer Rides Unbeaten Momentum Into End of Non-Conference Slate
- Cal Poly kept its historic start to the season intact on Sunday, securing a scoreless draw at home to a talented Cal team to remain unbeaten through eight matches this season (2-0-6).
- Cal Poly's current eight-match unbeaten streak is its third longest to start a season in program history and its longest overall since ending the 2009 season on a nine-match unbeaten streak. The Mustangs have already matched their program record for draws in a single season with six. The Mustangs are currently one of 24 just teams in the nation that have yet to suffer a loss this season.
- Cal Poly earned its third shutout of the season in Sunday's scoreless draw and second in its last three matches. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Shannon Porubski made her third straight start in net and secured her second career clean sheet. She currently has a .909 save percentage and 0.33 goals against average, only just one goal over her three appearances.
- Senior forward Jessie Halladay is currently tied for the Big West lead in goals with four, while graduate student midfielder Madelyn Dougherty is tied for first in the conference in assists with three this season.
- Cal Poly women's soccer welcomes unbeaten Seattle (3-0-3) to San Luis Obispo on Sunday at 7 p.m. for its nonconference finale. The team will honor its nine seniors prior to the match — Alyssa Szarlacki, Brennan Cole, Julia Moore, Madelyn Dougherty, Caylie Button, Jessie Halladay, Sophia Minnite, Camryn Penn and Emily Lieber. The match is part of Cal Poly's Week of Welcome activities and will be played following the men's soccer match against Saint Mary's at 4 p.m. You can purchase tickets to the soccer doubleheader HERE.
Men's Soccer Back at Spanos for Pair of Home Contests
- Following a season-opening, four-match road trip, Cal Poly returns to Mustang Memorial Field for three successive home matches, beginning Thursday against San Francisco (7 p.m.) and continuing Sunday versus Saint Mary’s (4 p.m.).
- Cal Poly earned its first victory of 2025 with a 3-0 win at Air Force (Sept. 5).
- Freshman Tanner Casey – in his first collegiate appearance – scored the eventual game-winner in the 12th minute to earn Big West Freshman of the Week praise. Sophomore Rylan Firouznam (14’) and senior Oren Stuppel (40’) followed with their first goals of 2025. Senior Nicky McCune made five saves to earn his first shutout of 2025 and collect Big West Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Women's Golf Tees Off for First Tournament of 2025-26 Season
- The Mustangs open their fall season at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M. (Sept. 8-9).
- The team aims to build on its first tournament win since 2023 (Tulane Classic) and its fifth-place finish in last season’s Big West Championship, while looking to continue the standard of excellence set by Jensen Jalufka, who graduated with the program's career stroke average record (74.1) and an NCAA postseason appearance.
- Key returners include Nicole Koong, who holds the program's second-best career stroke average (74.5) and earned All-Big West Honorable Mention as a freshman, and junior Sarah Yoo, a past All-Big West honoree.
- The team welcomes a highly-touted freshman class (Taylor Baker, Alex Flier, Maddy Saysanasongkham) that Roberts calls "the strongest recruiting class in Cal Poly golf history," expected to immediately compete for starting spots.
Cal Poly vs. UC Riverside, Women's Soccer Highlights -- Oct 23rd, 2025
Friday, October 24
Mustang Insider Show with Chris Sylvester -- Oct 20, 2025
Thursday, October 23
Cal Poly vs. UC Irvine, Volleyball Highlights -- Oct 17th, 2025
Saturday, October 18
Cal Poly vs. Cal State Fullerton, Women's Soccer Highlights -- Oct 12th, 2025
Sunday, October 12
