Cal Poly Volleyball extends win streak to four with sweeps over Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine

Cal Poly Volleyball held on to the top spot in the Big West Conference this weekend after sweeps over Cal State Fullerton on Friday and UC Irvine on Saturday at Mott Athletics Center.

The Mustangs (19-8, 12-4 Big West) extended their winning streak to four straight against the Titans (4-22, 0-16 Big West) and the Anteaters (14-13, 8-8 Big West), sweeping every opponent.

Defensive battle against the Titans

Cal Poly volleyball swept Cal State Fullerton in Mott Athletics Center on Friday night.

The game was plagued by many attack errors, but Cal Poly’s win solidified its first-place standings in the Big West, tied with UC Davis. 

All three sets remained neck-and-neck throughout the matchup, and the Mustangs trailed for most of the second set. 

Several attack errors early in the second set allowed Fullerton to build an early lead 5-0, forcing Cal Poly to call a timeout. 

The Titans’ strong start created momentum, which they carried throughout the rest of the set. 

Fullerton disrupted Cal Poly’s offensive rhythm by targeting their service passers. Fullerton effectively forced them out of the system, limiting the Mustangs’ ability to execute their preferred plays. 

“Usually, we like to set a lot of slides to Breklyn,” head coach Caroline Walters said. “I thought Fullerton was really smart about where they served, and they made it pretty difficult for our service passers to stay in system to allow us to set that slide as much as we normally do.”

Fullerton’s tactical serving forced Cal Poly to rethink its game plan, leading to an adjustment in the second set. The team recognized the need for a more substantial presence at the net and a way to regain control.

“To get back into the second set, we went into a 6-2 formation,” Walters said. “It just gives us a little bit more height in the front row, which makes it more difficult for teams to defend. It influenced us positively in turning that set around.”

After implementing this formation, the Mustangs executed a 6-0 scoring run to turn the score around and lead 23-18. 

This momentum allowed Cal Poly to capitalize on their serves, with redshirt junior setter Emme Bullis delivering a crucial service ace, finishing the night with two aces.

Redshirt senior outside hitter Tommi Stockham made crucial kills to close the gap and overcome the early deficit, winning set two 25-22 and recording 14 kills in the win. 

Going into the third set, the Mustangs focused on finding more consistent play and staying competitive on both sides of the net. 

Cal State Fullerton remained on top of their game, not deterred by the potential outcome of a sweep. 

At 20 apiece, the set could go either way, but the Mustangs pushed ahead with a 5-0 run to seal the win. 

As the season nears its end, the Titans have yet to win a Big West match, but their ability to compete closely in all three sets against Cal Poly highlights some areas where the Mustangs need to build strength as they prepare for the postseason. 

“We know we are always going to get every team’s best when they come into our gym, so we were preparing for a battle,” Walters said. 

The Mustangs will celebrate their five seniors Saturday at 6 p.m. in Mott Athletics Center as they take on UC Irvine in their final home game before the postseason. 

Offense shows out against the Anteaters

Cal Poly volleyball continued to dominate on home court, sweeping back-to-back opponents and sending UC Irvine home on senior night Saturday night in Mott Athletics Center. 

The Mustangs have officially clinched a spot in the Big West Championship field and currently occupy first place in the Big West standings. 

The Mustangs had a better night on offense, limiting their attack errors, which was a big problem in their previous matchup against Cal State Fullerton.

The offense stood out the most, with the team maintaining control over their digs and the attackers deciding when to keep the ball in play. 

The Mustangs surged ahead 13-3 in a 7-0 scoring run, which was brought by attack errors from the Anteaters and kills that proved impossible to dig out. 

Redshirt junior outside hitter Lizzy Markovska ended the first set with a service ace, winning 25-17. 

The Anteaters kept the score closer at the start of set two. The game was played neck-and-neck, with neither team gaining any offensive advantage. 

It was when the Mustangs capitalized on UC Irvine’s attack errors, which set the tone for another 7-0 scoring run.

While serving, Markovska acquired two back-to-back aces. 

“Liz served really well in some key moments and forced a lot of balls off the net,” Walters said. “It’s hard to attack when the ball is off the net, and we were able to defend really well in those situations.”

Markovska recorded a season-high of three aces to end the night, highlighting her offensive impact at the serve line. 

The Mustang had a 17-4 lead over the Anteaters in set three to cap off the match after going on an eight-to-nothing run. 

“I am pleased with an 8-0 service run. I think that is one of the longest of the year for us,” Walters said. 

Stockham contributed to the Mustangs’ offensive run, delivering consistent kills supported by sets from redshirt junior setter Emme Bullis. This fueled the Mustangs’ momentum, enabling an efficient scoring burst. 

Stockham recorded 19 kills and two service aces. 

“Tonight’s game is exactly what I would have dreamed of,” Stockham said. “Emme set me great balls, and my teammates helped me deliver out there tonight.”

As the season nears its end, the five seniors played their final game in Mott Athletics Center. Now, they are gearing up for a road trip to finish the season.

“I just wanted to have fun my last time in Mott Gym,” Stockham said. “I’ve been here for four years, so I just wanted my teammates to have fun, and I’m so glad everybody got to go in and play.”

The Mustangs look to finish their season strong as they take on UC Riverside on Thursday, Nov. 21, in the SRC Arena.