Cal Poly Falls in Big West Championship Match to Long Beach State

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The Cal Poly beach volleyball team made a run to the Big West Championship match Friday but fell just short of its goal of winning a Big West title after losing to No. 10 Long Beach State, 3-1.

The No. 6 Mustangs got to the championship match after first defeating CSUN in the semifinals by a score of 3-0. In that match, the No. 1 pair of Erin Inskeep and Piper Ferch, the No. 2 pair of Izzy Martinez and Logan Walter, and the No. 3 pair of Lindsey Sparks and Quinn Perry each picked up wins.

For Ferch, that win was the 100th of her career, putting her just one win behind Cal Poly’s all-time leader Emily Sonny who had 101.

In the championship match against Long Beach State, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, Martinez and Walter won their match at the No. 2 spot to even the dual up 1-1. That marked the 75th career win for Martinez.

However, Long Beach State then picked up a win at the No. 5 spot followed by a three-set victory at the No. 3 spot to clinch the victory.

Despite not earning the automatic berth into the NCAA Championship, Cal Poly will most likely be chosen to go as an at large selection to next week’s NCAA Championship in Gulf Shores, Ala. The Mustangs will find out during the selection show which is Sunday at 10 a.m. on NCAA.com.

The NCAA Championship takes place May 2-4 on the ESPN family of networks with 16 teams competing for the national title.

Beach Volleyball Match Results CSUN vs Cal Poly 
Apr 25, 2025 at Santa Monica, CA 
#6 Cal Poly 4, CSUN 0

1. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) def. Mae, Tasha/Lindhardt, Kinley (CSUN) 21-18, 21-15 
2. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter (CP) def. Bazylevych, Julia/Mendiola, Tia (CSUN) 21-13, 21-7 3. Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) def. Hall, Dylan/Heflin, Hannah (CSUN) 21-18, 21-14 
4. Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) def. Cederlind, Layla/Miles, Maleya (CSUN) 21-13, 21-17 5. Abbey Reinard/Elise Lenahan (CP) vs. Jarosz, Sophia/Coggins, Haley (CSUN) 21-13, 16-17, unfinished 
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3,4)

Beach Volleyball Match Results Long Beach State vs Cal Poly 
Apr 25, 2025 at Santa Monica, CA 
#10 Long Beach State 3, #6 Cal Poly 1

1. Piper Ferch/Erin Inskeep (CP) vs. Malia Gementera/Taylor Hagenah (LBSU) 17-21, 29-27, 10-11, unfinished 
2. Izzy Martinez/Logan Walter (CP) def. Haley Carrington/Julia Westby (LBSU) 21-14, 21-19 
3. Demi Wagdy/Megan Widener (LBSU) def. Quinn Perry/Lindsey Sparks (CP) 25-23, 18-21, 15-12 
4. Skyler Germann/Natalie Glenn (LBSU) def. Ella Connor/Madi Nichols (CP) 21-11, 21-16 5. Mahala Esser/Tineke Hinton (LBSU) def. Abbey Reinard/Elise Lenahan (CP) 21-19, 21-14

Order of finish: Doubles (4,2,5,3)