On day one of the Best of the West tournament, Cal Poly Beach Volleyball proved they deserve a shot to earn that title, toppling No. 2 UCLA for the first time in program history in a stunning 3-2 statement win on Friday, April 4.
The No. 6 ranked Mustangs (18-2) started the two-match day at Laguna Beach by beating No. 19 University of Washington 4-1 before taking down the Bruins for a perfect start to the weekend.
No. 1 pair Piper Ferch and Erin Inskeep were a spotless 2-0, leading the Mustangs to their 16th straight win, the longest active streak in the nation.
The win moves the pair to 16-3 together on the season.
Sophomore Quinn Perry was perfect on the day as well, winning against the Huskies with partner Maddy Byrne before switching partners to graduate student Lindsey Sparks and winning again hours later.
The Mustangs top duos delivered, as pairs 1-3 all came through to clinch the match over UCLA.
Cal Poly had faced the Bruins once before this year, back on Feb. 28, losing 4-1.
The team looked energized in their second matchup, taking advantage of the Bruins away from their home campus for the upset.
Having just passed the halfway point in the season, the Mustangs will soon turn their attention to the rapidly approaching Big West playoffs later in April.
They will have a shot at revenge for their only other loss of the season on day two of the Best of the West tournament against No. 3 LMU.
The Mustangs fell 4-1 in their previous matchup, the same weekend as the loss to the Bruins.
Saturday they will face LMU at 10 a.m. and then another nationally ranked program in No. 14 Stetson at 1 p.m.