GULF SHORES, Ala. – Finishing with emphatic back-to-back blocks to clinch the match, No. 6 seed Cal Poly dispatched third-seeded Stanford to reach their second consecutive semifinal at the 2025 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship from the courts at Gulf Place.
The Mustangs match their program high in wins to move to 31-7 on the season after serving as the lone upset through the first two rounds of the bracket. Cal Poly advances to take on No. 2 seed TCU on ESPN2 following the first semifinal between No. 1 seed UCLA and No. 4 seed LMU. The advancing team between the Mustangs and Horned Frogs will be making a first-ever Championship dual appearance
Cal Poly took first-set wins on Courts 1, 4 and 5 to edge out to the early advantage in the dual and held serve for the victorious team effort and a 14th win of the season over a ranked foe.
The first pair to finish was Piper Ferch and Erin Inskeep at the No. 1s. The Mustang duo opened with the early lead in the first, holding the 16-10 advantage late in the frame. The score bloomed to 19-13 and the Cardinal tandem of Taylor Wilson and Ruby Sorra was able to fend off three set points before Ferch and Inskeep nabbed the first set, 21-16. In the second, Inskeep served up an ace to set the score at 18-14 and keep Stanford on their heels. Ferch poked it over to win the team point for the Mustangs and claim a 101st career win for Cal Poly.
Next, Stanford was able to get on the board at the No. 2 court, but Cal Poly quickly regained the lead at the 5s as Abbey Reinard and Elise Lenahan got the 21-17, 21-13 win. With Lenahan serving for the match, a long rally ensued. A scrambling save and ball tickling the line gave the point to the Mustangs to make the match score 2-1.
On Court 4 with Director of Player Morale Mr. Herc wagging a tail courtside, the tandem of Ella Connor and Madi Nichols were able to secure the victory for Cal Poly.
The Mustangs had the slim lead in the tight first frame for much of the match. At 20-17, Stanford freshman Logan Tusher went around the block to stave off set point and the Cardinal edged even closer on the following play. With the score at 20-19, Connor’s hard hit to the deep middle portion of the court gave the Mustangs the frame. Connor and Nichols again saw themselves in the lead for much of the second and a pair of back-to-back blocks for Connor sent the Mustangs back into the semifinals.
Last season, the Mustangs fell to the eventual champion USC Trojans in the semifinal round as the No. 5 seed. With Southern California bowing out in the quarterfinal round after winning the last four consecutive titles, there will be a new team hoisting the trophy for the first time since 2019. Only two programs – USC and UCLA – have ever been crowned victors since 2016’s first Championship.
National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship – Quarterfinals
No. 6 seed Cal Poly 3, No. 3 seed Stanford 1
No. 1 – Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) def. Taylor Wilson/Ruby Sorra (STAN), 21-16, 21-15
No. 2 – Brooke Rockwell/Avery Jackson (STAN) def. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter (CP), 21-14, 21-15
No. 3 – Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) vs. Charlotta Bell/Kelly Belardi (STAN), 10-21, 24-24 (unfinished)
No. 4 – Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) def. Chloe Hoffman/Logan Tusher (STAN), 21-19, 21-16
No. 5 – Abbey Reinard/Elise Lenahan (CP) def. Daria Gusarova/Emmy Sharp (STAN), 21-17, 21-13
Order of finish: 1, 2, 5, 4*