The Cal Poly beach volleyball team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship after defeating No. 11 Grand Canyon 3-0 in the first round, according to a May 1 announcement.
The result is significant for Cal Poly, as it secures their place among the top teams competing for a national title and sets up a high-profile match against UCLA.
During Friday’s opening round in Gulf Shores, Alabama, Cal Poly’s No. 4 pair Julia Westby and Elise Lenahan earned an early victory with scores of 21-16 and 21-14. Ella Connor and Erin Inskeep followed at the No. 1 spot with straight set wins of 21-12 and 21-17. The decisive point came from Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter at No. 2, who clinched their third set by a score of 15-10.
With these victories, Westby and Lenahan improved their season record to 29 wins and three losses, while Connor and Inskeep reached a mark of 32 wins and five losses. Martinez and Walter now hold an NCAA-leading record of 35 wins to three losses as partners.
Cal Poly will face No. 3 UCLA in Saturday’s quarterfinal at ESPN2/ESPN+. The winner will advance to play either Texas or Loyola Marymount University later that day.
