Cal Poly Volleyball recorded its 14th sweep of the season, defeating Sacramento State in a competitive senior night match.
The team celebrated four graduating seniors in a postgame ceremony, including senior walk-outs and a senior tribute video. The four seniors included outside hitters Emma Fredrick and Kayla Murdoch, along with defensive specialist Ella Scott and setter Samantha Callahan.
Typically, senior night marks the last time senior athletes play at home, but these Mustangs will get one more taste of ‘Mott Magic’ as they compete for the Big West Tournament Championship title at Mott Athletics Center on Thanksgiving weekend.
Frederick has consistently led the offense this season with 365 kills this season. Tonight was no different, as she led the roster with 14 kills and a .440 hitting percentage.
Throughout her time with Cal Poly Volleyball, Frederick has had different roles on the team. Her sophomore season, she played only seven matches, compared to the 22 games she played in her freshman season.
Starting her junior year, Fredrick became a constant starter and shifted her level of play.
“I think the transition from sophomore to junior year was a big change for me cause I got that opportunity sophomore year and lost it,” Fredrick said. “So going into junior year knowing that I had to make a change and I got that opportunity again, I kept it, and I stuck through it.”
Both senior outside hitters were offensively effective against the Hornets as Murdoch recorded a .357 hitting percentage with seven kills.
“It was a lot of motivation that it was senior night; we just had to go crazy tonight,” Murdoch said.
While Sacramento State recorded three more blocks than Cal Poly, their backrow defense couldn’t stop the Mustangs’ offensive efficiency; they had only 29 digs compared to Cal Poly’s 45.
Junior libero Elif Hurriyet captained the defense with 12 digs, followed by Fredrick and junior setter Alexis Haury, who each recorded eight.
The Hornets caught up with the Mustangs toward the end of the match, leading set three 24-21 and needing only one more point to extend the game.
However, the Mustangs held on, earning the next three points to tie the set.
Through a combination of service errors, kills and a service ace, the teams managed to tie the set up four more times before the Mustangs secured the win 30-28 with a block by outside hitter Breklyn Pulling and Haury.
The Mustangs will finish their regular season on the road as they take on UC Riverside and California Baptist University on Nov. 20 and 21.