Beach volleyball has a way of stripping the sport down to its essentials—sun, sand and the steady heartbeat of competition. For Ella Connor, those elements have shaped more than just the game; they’ve defined the entire college experience. The Cal Poly standout didn’t arrive in San Luis Obispo expecting to become one of the program’s most decorated athletes, but the journey from a breakout freshman to a seasoned leader tells a story of resilience, perspective and community. 

As a redshirt senior and soon-to-be college graduate, Connor has learned to balance the intensity of competition with a sense of joy and purpose. Early accolades set a high bar, but it’s the lessons learned between the wins—about mental health, relationships and loving the game—that have carried her through. Now, with a milestone season and a Big West Championship victory attained on home sand, Connor is reflecting on how far she’s come and what still lies ahead. 

 

   A Fast Start and a New Perspective   

Connor’s impact was immediate. In a first collegiate season at Cal Poly, native of Kihei, Maui, Hawai'i, earned first-team All-American honors and was named Freshman of the Year—a burst onto the scene that could have easily reset expectations. “Going into the season, I had zero expectations,” Connor said. “Maybe once I got those, probably a little bit, but my sophomore year was a big change for me, volleyball wise and personal wise.” 

That change included stepping away for a season to focus on mental health, a decision of met with openness and pride. “I ended up taking a medical redshirt year for mental health reasons, but then I came back for the last three and it’s been awesome ever since,” Connor said. The time away didn’t slow the growth; instead, it provided needed perspective to return stronger—mentally and physically. 

Soon after, Connor earned a spot on the United States Collegiate Beach National Team, an outward reflection on the growth on the court that came with lasting personal impacts.  “I met a lot of great people there that I’m still friends with to this day, Connor reflected. “Every single one of those camps is run really well. It’s been a super fun experience to be a part of every single one of them.” 

That blend of humility and gratitude has become a defining trait. Whether competing at the highest level or training with teammates, Connor keeps the focus on relationships, growth and enjoying the ride. 

 

   Building Chemistry and Chasing Consistency   

One of the constants in Connor’s career has been her ability to connect with different partners on the sand. In 2026, that chemistry has clicked with Erin Inskeep, and the results have followed. “I really think it’s being good with relationships, being able to understand different people, trying to change little bits and pieces to work best with everyone,” Connor added. “I think that’s something I’ve focused on throughout the years and it’s shown good success.” 

The duo bonded into the best in The Big West – earning Pairs Team of the Year, along with All-Big West and All-American honors. This is Connor’s second couplet to result in top billing from the conference, also landing the Pairs Team of the Year award in 2024 alongside Izzy Martinez, demonstrating that flexibility. 

Adaptability has helped Cal Poly remain a force in The Big West, even as lineups shift and new faces join the program. “There’s a lot of different moving pieces. We have a really big team again. We got some super crucial transfers that I live with—three out of four of them,” she said. “Pushing ourselves in practice has been super crucial and finding out the right partnerships because our lineup changed a lot at the beginning of the season. But trusting each other and believing in each other and having good relationships off the court has been really important.” 

That trust and belief were on full display when Connor broke the Cal Poly career wins mark in April, highlighting sustained excellence. “The recognition is cool, but I’m not really focused on it,” Connor remembered. “But it was super nice. My team made a lot of posters and they’re super cute. I felt super loved. That was really cool.” 

It’s a fitting response for an athlete who measures success not just in numbers, but in the strength of the entire team. 

  

   Lessons Beyond the Sand   

Connor’s approach to the game has been shaped by the people she’s surrounded by, starting with family. Athletics runs deep in the Connor household—her mom played basketball at Portland before pursuing a career in medicine, and her siblings are also immersed in volleyball. In fact, her parents met on a grass volleyball court.  

“Growing up in an athletic family has made it more fun overall because it’s something that I do get to share with the rest of my family,” she said. “It’s a lot easier to explain the game to them and they know what’s happening which is super nice.” 

At Cal Poly, Connor has found another guiding voice in head coach Todd Rogers, the Olympic gold medalist who’s helped her see the bigger picture. “I’ve learned so much from Todd, not just on the court, but off the court too,” she said. “He has a really big emphasis in filling your buckets off the court, and I think he does a really good job of making sure that we are well-rounded people and care about things that aren’t just volleyball. It makes it easier to come back to the team to give your all when you don’t have to give your all just to that.” 

That mindset has changed how Connor approaches the sport. “He’s one that’s fun to talk to because he’s been through everything that we’ve been through,” she said. “Getting his reaction to a lot of the problems that I’ve been having on the court and off the court has been super helpful for me.” 

Mental health remains a central focus for Connor, who encourages others to seek help when they need it. “I think mental health is important. It’s keeping your mental just as strong as your physical has been something that I’ve really been focusing on,” Connor said. “Reaching out for help is a big one because a lot of athletes think that mental health is weak in a way. Making sure that everything is set up is just leaving no stone unturned and understanding that the full picture is much healthier than pushing it away to the side.” 

Connor credits her support system—including her dog, Herc, the team's official Director of Player Morale on the roster—for helping her stay grounded. “Herc is somewhere here, he’s under the table,” she laughed. “But he’s been an amazing part of my college career, and the team is joking that they’re going to have to get another dog next year because they don’t know what to do.” 

Beyond volleyball, Connor recently completed her degree in experience industry management with a concentration in sport management. “Event planning, sport management, it was something that I was a lot better at than kinesiology,” she said. “I went into something that I really enjoyed. I’ve been putting on some events. I love our Jack’s Helping Hand event that someone else is going to run next year. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m confident that they’ll do a good job.” 

  

   Home Sand, Home Crowd, Storybook Ending   

The Mustangs were able to celebrate the 2026 Big West Championship with a win on the sand at the Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex, celebrating the special moment and Cal Poly’s first conference crown since Connor’s freshman season in front of the San Luis Obispo community.  

“The community in SLO is amazing and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I coach a high school here and all those girls at Mission are cute and awesome. They love to come out and support.” 

It was a fitting setting for a player who has given so much to the program—and who has received just as much in return to hoist the trophy in a full circle moment.  

As The Big West’s automatic qualifier into the 2026 National Collegiate Beach Volleyball bracket, the Mustangs headed back to Gulf Shores, Ala., as the No. 6 seed and picked up a first-round victory against GCU before falling in a competitive battle to eventual national champion UCLA in the second round.  

Connor’s mark on the Mustangs can be seen not only with the program’s wins record but as a three-time first-team All-American (2022, ’25, ’26), two-time Big West champion (2022, ’26) and four-time national championship participant, advancing in the brackets each of the last three seasons and twice making the quarterfinal round. 

For Connor, the wins, the friendships, and the lessons have all blended into a college career defined by joy, resilience, and purpose. Closing this chapter, Connor does so with gratitude for the team that lifted her, the coach who guided her and the community that cheered her on every step of the way.