Caroline Walters and Mustangs Volleyball Announce Three-Match Spring Campaign
4/21/2026 1:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — After posting one of the best seasons in program history and a perfect 15-0 record at home, the Mustangs will return to Mott Athletics Center for one day as part of a three-match spring slate, announced by head coach Caroline Walters.
The opening match is an emotionally charged one against Nevada on May 2 at 10:30 a.m. at San Luis Obispo’s Mission Prep. The Wolf Pack are led by former Mustangs Jason Borchin and Emme Bullis. Game two takes place a week later against UCLA on May 9 at 11 a.m. The Bruins finished the season receiving votes in the AVCA rankings and held an eight seed in last season’s NCAA tournament.
The headliner of the spring campaign comes with an open-door class against conference foe UC Irvine at Mott Athletics Center on May 16 at 1 p.m., with doors opening 30 minutes before first serve. Admission is free, and everyone is highly encouraged to support your defending Big West Champion Mustangs.
Reminiscing on the Run
Cal Poly earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament after a historic season. The team completed a perfect 15-0 home record, extending a 19-match win streak dating to 2024 — the second-best in program history. They also recorded their third consecutive season with 14 conference wins, finishing second only to UC Davis in the regular-season standings.
As the two seed in the Big West Championship, the Mustangs dominated host Long Beach State before decisively defeating top-seeded UC Davis to secure the program’s 18th NCAA postseason appearance.
In the tournament’s opening rounds, Cal Poly became the lowest seed and only the second mid-major this season to reach the Sweet 16. They achieved this by defeating five-seed BYU and four-seed host USC in back-to-back five-set marathons within 24 hours.
That marked the program’s seventh Sweet 16 appearance overall and its second under the current 64-team format, with the last third-round trip occurring in 2007. The Mustangs’ 27 wins are the most under head coach Caroline Walters and the program’s highest total since 2017.
The Mustangs fell to No. 1 seed Kentucky in three sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-7) in the third round of the NCAA tournament and the semifinals of the Lexington Regional.
For their efforts, the Mustangs wrapped up the season ranked No. 21 nationally in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association poll released Monday.
The ranking was the highest by the Mustangs to finish a year since ending the 2007 season at No. 11. This is the 13th time in program history the team has finished a season ranked since the AVCA poll began releasing weekly rankings in 1982.
Overall, this was the highest national ranking for the Mustangs since checking in at No. 13 on Nov. 26, 2018.
New Year, New (And Same) Mustangs
Cal Poly welcomes back a vast majority of its roster from last season but loses valuable veterans in Emme Bullis, Annabelle Thalken, and London Haberfield.
At setter, the Mustangs had big shoes to fill as Bullis, one of the greatest ball distributors in program history, graduated and is now coaching alongside former associate head coach Jason Borchin at Nevada.
Stepping up will be high-profile Washington transfer Alexis Haury, a junior who posted 1,000 assists in 2025 and should slot in seamlessly with a team looking to play at a Power Four level. Senior Mustang and longtime dependable rotational setter Samantha Callahan also returns for her senior season, with Brooke Hansen rounding out the position group.
At the net, last year’s inspiring walk-on story, Katy Foley, redshirted and returns with full eligibility, while 2024 Big West First Team honoree and starting middle blocker Breklyn Pulling returns from the injury that kept her out of the entire 2025 season.
Pulling also retains the remainder of her eligibility and comes in with a medical redshirt. Two heroes of last year’s team, Chloe Leluge and Charlotte Kelly, form arguably one of the most dangerous middle-blocking units in the nation.
On the pins and attacking outside will be NCAA tournament standout and jump-serve aficionado Kendall Beshear, hard-hitting veteran Emma Fredrick, sophomore Aveya Stone, Kayla Murdoch, and newcomer opposite three-star recruit Kamille Scott.
Elif Hurriyet, Ella Scott, and Maren O’Farrell all return to the fold as a dangerous and consistent brigade of defensive specialists who can all step in as the primary libero while providing lethal service components.
On the sideline, 2024 Big West Coach of the Year Caroline Walters and assistant coach Addie Picha are back for their seventh and fourth seasons with Cal Poly, respectively. Former head coach Sam Crosson steps into the role of associate head coach after seven years in the Bay Area, notably as head coach at Cal.
