Cal Poly Beach Volleyball loses in quarterfinals at NCAA Championships

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Cal Poly beach volleyball saw its incredible 2026 season come to an end Saturday after falling to No. 3 UCLA 3-1 in the NCAA Championship Quarterfinals.

The No. 6 Mustangs battled at all five courts with seven of the 10 sets being decided by three points or fewer.

It was the Bruins winning at the No. 1 pair to start the match and get on the board first. A short time later, just like they’ve done all season, it was Cal Poly’s No. 2 of Logan Walter and Izzy Martinez winning to tie the dual 1-1.

UCLA then just edged out wins at the No. 5 and No. 3 spots to clinch the dual 3-1.

Despite the loss, 2026 was still a season for the books for the Mustangs. They finish with a record of 31-9, their third season in a row with 31 victories. They also won the Big West Championship for the fourth time in program history and made the NCAA Championship for the sixth time in program history.

Four players were named AVCA All-Americans, the most by any school in the country. They also had nine players earn All-Big West honors and 10 who earned AVCA Top Flight honors. For two of the top players in program history, Ella Connor and Izzy Martinez, they each finish tied for the program record for career wins with 112.

Martinez and Walter finish as the winningest pair in program history. They set the program record for career wins by a pair with 66. This season, they also broke the program record for single season wins by a pair with 36.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics).