The talent is there. The results against the nation’s elite programs just haven’t quite followed yet for Cal Poly Beach Volleyball.
The No. 4 ranked Mustangs split the final day at the Battle for Los Angeles on Saturday, falling to now No. 3 USC 4-1 before sweeping Concordia Irvine 5-0 at Merle Norman Stadium.
READ MORE: “Cal Poly Beach Volleyball falls to UCLA, beats Boise State at Battle for LA tournament“
For head coach Todd Rogers, the loss to USC revealed something both encouraging and frustrating about his team.
“I told the girls this today … we have, in my opinion, as much talent, if not more talent than they do. But if that’s the case, how are we losing? It’s this part,” Rogers added, pointing to his head. “The belief, the willingness to go for it when it matters most.”
Against the Trojans, several courts were tightly contested, but USC ultimately won four of the five matches. The Mustangs’ lone victory came from the No. 1 pair of Erin Inskeep and Ella Connor, who battled past USC’s Zoey Henson and Sarah Wood in a marathon first set before closing the match 30-28, 21-11.
Rogers said moments like those illustrate the small margins that separate Cal Poly from programs that have consistently competed at the top of the sport, like USC and UCLA.
“These other teams are so used to being in those situations,” Rogers said. “UCLA has, USC has. They’ve been there a million times. We’ve been there a couple of times now, but we’re not finishing when it matters most.”
In late-game situations, Rogers said the Mustangs need to embrace risk rather than playing conservatively.
“When it’s 21-20 or 22-21 and you have a swing, that may be your one chance,” Rogers said. “You have to take the swing that’s going to get the kill. If you fail, fine. But you have to take the chance.”
Even in their win, Connor and Inskeep experienced those learning moments. Rogers noted the pair had earlier opportunities to close out the opening set before it stretched into the 30-point range.
“They could have won 21-19,” Rogers said. “But the strength was that after they messed up on a point they should have put away, they didn’t collapse. They just stayed the course and kept battling.”
The pair ultimately secured the Mustangs’ only point against USC and later picked up another victory in the second match of the day. Connor and Inskeep improved to 7-1 together on the season, matching the record of Cal Poly’s other top pair, Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter.
Both duos have benefited from strong chemistry, according to Rogers.
“Erin and Ella played a lot together over the summer and fall, and Izzy and Logan played all last year together,” Rogers said. “They have great chemistry, and they enjoy playing with each other. In a pairs game, that’s really important.”
After the loss to USC, Cal Poly rebounded with a dominant 5-0 sweep of Concordia Irvine to close the tournament.
Martinez and Walter earned a 21-14, 21-18 win at the No. 1 spot, while Connor and Inskeep followed with a 21-13, 21-11 victory at No. 2. Quinn Perry and Ashleigh Adams won at No. 3 to improve to 3-0 together this season.
The Mustangs also experimented with lineup combinations, as Emma Zuffelato and Faith Bartlett picked up a win in their first match together at No. 4, and Hannah Byers and Maddy Byrne secured the sweep at No. 5 in their first time pairing.
Rogers said the matchup with Concordia showcased Cal Poly’s depth, even with lineup adjustments.
“I pushed some people around and added new teams, and we still crushed them,” Rogers said. “There’s a big difference in talent level there.”
Still, Rogers emphasized that the program’s focus remains on competing with the sport’s elite teams, the kind of programs that have defined the national landscape for years.
The Mustangs, now 6-2 on the season, will have another opportunity to test themselves next weekend at the Chanticleer Challenge in Conway, South Carolina. Cal Poly will face No. 19 Georgia State, Coastal Carolina, Tulane and No. 14 FAU.
For Rogers, the next step for the Mustangs is raising the level across the entire lineup.
Cal Poly’s top two pairs appear set, but the coaching staff continues to evaluate the teams competing in the middle of the lineup.
“At this point, our top two teams are playing really good volleyball,” Rogers said. “Now we’re trying to figure out our three, fours and which five team is going to step up.”
The goal, Rogers said, is simple: push the entire roster to improve.
“When everyone pushes their ceiling up, the whole program rises,” Rogers said. “That’s what we want to see from the rest of our lineup.”