San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The Cal Poly women’s volleyball team reaffirmed its status as the Central Coast’s top program with a decisive 3‑0 win over rival UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. The Mustangs (14‑6, 10‑0) completed a second sweep of the Gauchos (10‑11, 6‑4) in just three days, extending a ten‑match winning streak that puts them at the forefront of the Big West conference.
Key performances propel Mustangs to victory
Freshman outside hitter Kendall Beshear opened the match with a strong service run, while middle blocker Breklyn Pulling and setter Alexis Haury combined for back‑to‑back blocks that helped the Mustangs pull away in the first set, closing it 25‑16.
The second set proved tighter, featuring six ties and three lead changes. After UCSB built an early 8‑4 lead, Beshear’s kill at 17‑16 gave Cal Poly its first lead, and the team held on to capture the set 25‑22.
In the deciding third set, the Gauchos surged to a 7‑2 advantage, but Cal Poly rallied, tying the score at 13‑13 and eventually taking a 20‑19 lead. The set remained dead‑locked at 23‑23 before senior outside hitter Fredrick delivered back‑to‑back match‑clinching kills, sealing the set 25‑23.
Statistical highlights
Cal Poly hit .358 as a team, recording 45 kills on 95 attempts with only 11 errors. The Mustangs also logged 43 assists, 36 digs and seven total blocks (all block assists). Fredrick contributed 13 kills, two service aces, six digs and a block assist. Beshear matched her with 14 kills (.419 hitting), one ace, four digs and a block assist. Charlotte Kelly was remarkably efficient, posting nine kills on 12 attempts (.667) and three block assists.
Over the two‑match weekend, Fredrick amassed 27 kills, 16 digs and three service aces across six sets, hitting .309. Beshear added 22 kills, nine digs and two aces while hitting .447. Pulling, fresh from a record‑setting performance Thursday, recorded 18 kills on 27 attempts (.593) and five block assists.
Looking ahead
With the ten‑match win streak and a five‑match lead in the Big West championship race, Cal Poly heads to UC Irvine on Friday at 6 p.m. and then to UC San Diego on Saturday at 5 p.m. for the next two conference challenges.
UCSB’s top scorer, Auburn Tomkinson, posted a double‑digit 11 kills and 11.5 points, while Gabi Martinez added 10 kills. Cortni Youngblood led the match with 12 digs, and Avery Gibbs contributed seven kills with a .357 hitting percentage.
(Information provided by Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara athletics.)
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
