Championship Central |
Award Ceremony |
Day 2 Interviews
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The 2026 Big West Beach Volleyball Championship concluded Friday afternoon at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex as top-seeded Cal Poly delivered a dominant performance on its home sand, sweeping No. 2 seed Long Beach State, 3-0, to claim the conference crown. This is the first time the Mustangs have hoisted the trophy since 2022.
In a championship atmosphere fueled by a strong home crowd, the Mustangs controlled the dual from the outset, capping off an impressive two-day run through both pool and bracket play. The title marks another milestone moment for Cal Poly, which secured The Big West’s automatic berth into the 2026 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball Championship.
Championship Friday began with four teams battling through the single-elimination bracket after Thursday’s pool play. No. 3 seed Hawai’i opened the day with a 3-0 sweep over No. 5 seed CSUN, highlighted by the pair of Julia Lawrenz and Izadora Stedile, who earned a 21-11, 21-11 victory at the No. 1 flight. At the fours, Kristen Serrano and Caprice Lorenzo added a 21-15, 21-17 win, while Sarah Burton and Sophie Buschmann secured the clincher at the fives, 21-14, 21-15.
In the second quarterfinal, No. 4 seed UC Davis advanced with a 3-1 win over No. 7 seed Cal State Bakersfield. After dropping the No. 2 flight, the Aggies responded behind Kendal Steller and Shelby Santos, who posted a 21-16, 21-19 victory at the threes. Skye Smolinski and Kate O'Steen followed with a 21-18, 21-13 win at the fours, before Ava Berard and Kirra Martin sealed the dual at the fives in a tightly contested 21-11, 26-24 match.
Top-seeded Cal Poly made quick work of Hawai’i in the semifinals, earning a 3-0 sweep. The Mustangs were led by the No. 2 pair of Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter, who cruised to a 21-10, 21-7 victory. At the threes, Quinn Perry and Ashleigh Adams added a 21-15, 21-14 win, while Julia Westby and Elise Lenahan clinched the match at the fours, 21-12, 21-11.
On the opposite side of the bracket, Long Beach State advanced to the final with a 3-0 sweep of UC Davis. The Beach picked up straight-set wins from Tineke Hinton and Demi Wagdy at the twos (21-13, 21-12) and Victoria Henkel and Savannah Standage at the fours (22-20, 21-18). The clinching point came from Kealoha Phillips and Brooke Birch at the fives.
The championship dual between the top two seeds showcased high-level play across all courts, but Cal Poly proved too strong. The Mustangs struck first at the No. 2 position, where Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter edged Long Beach State’s pair in a pair of tight sets, 21-19, 21-19. Moments later, Julia Westby and Elise Lenahan delivered a commanding 21-7, 21-16 win at the fours to give Cal Poly a 2-0 advantage.
The title-clinching point came from the No. 5 pair of Peyton Dueck and Katie Clevenger, who secured the sweep with a 21-12, 21-19 victory. Courts one and three went unfinished, with Cal Poly holding competitive positions in both.
Thursday’s pool play set the stage for the championship run, as Cal Poly and Long Beach State emerged as the top teams in their respective pools. The Mustangs opened with a 5-0 sweep of CSUN and closed the day with another 5-0 victory over UC Davis, while the Beach went 2-0 in Pool B, including a key 4-1 win over Hawai’i.
With the scenic backdrop of the Central Coast and a championship on the line, the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex provided a fitting stage for The Big West’s best. Cal Poly’s complete performance across all flights ultimately defined the weekend, as the Mustangs celebrated a well-earned conference title on their home courts.
Gallery: (4-24-2026) 26 BEACH: Day 2 Bracket Play