Saint Mary's
No. 3 Cal Poly Opens 2026 Season at Third Coast College Classic
2/19/2026 11:55:00 AM | Beach Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Cal Poly beach volleyball opens the 2026 season Friday as the Mustangs travel to Houston for the Third Coast College Classic, kicking off one of the most anticipated seasons in program history.
The Mustangs enter the year ranked No. 3 in the AVCA Preseason Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history, following back-to-back NCAA Championship semifinal appearances and a 31-win season in 2025.
Cal Poly faces Saint Mary’s at 11 a.m. PT on Friday before taking on Houston Christian at 3 p.m. PT. The Mustangs return to the sand Saturday with matches against Tarleton State at 6 a.m. PT and Southern Miss at 10 a.m. PT to finish off the weekend. All matches will have live stat links for fans to follow which can be found on the schedule page.
The tournament provides an early opportunity for the Mustangs to establish rhythm and evaluate their lineup to open the season. The four-match weekend marks the start of official competition for this year’s team. Cal Poly returns three AVCA All-Americans and seven All-Big West selections from last season, including Erin Inskeep and Ella Connor, who were recently named to the AVCA National Player of the Year Award watchlist.
Following this opening weekend, Cal Poly heads to Los Angeles next weekend for the Battle for LA where they will face four teams, including No. 1 UCLA and No. 4 USC.
