Mustang Report
Defying Gravity
Head coach Caroline Walters breaks down the factors behind
Cal Poly Volleyball’s latest conference championship and epic postseason run.
By Robyn Kontra Tanner
Photos courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics
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Players celebrate as they upset BYU in the first round of the NCAA tournament in December 2025.
Cal Poly’s volleyball team had one of the best seasons in university history in 2025, including a Big West Conference championship, thrilling upsets of No. 5 BYU and No. 4 USC, and a Cinderella run as the only unseeded team in the Sweet 16.
When the dust settled, the team notched a 27-8 record, remained undefeated at home and finished the season ranked No. 21 in the nation. Head coach Caroline Walters, who has coached the Mustangs for 17 years, reflects on what made this season so successful.
Building Confidence During the Offseason
During the 2024 Big West Tournament, injuries among key starters forced up-and-coming players to gain experience in high-intensity matches. A few months later, those players rallied to beat powerhouse UCLA in the spring season. During the summer, the team took another major step up when captains and returning players guided weightlifting and conditioning workouts. When the coaches and players reunited, the team was already polished.
“When we walked through the first practice, we were already playing really good, clean volleyball,” said Walters. “Our upperclassmen had explained systems and the way we do things — that was really exciting.”
The first match of Cal Poly’s 2025 nonconference schedule pitted the Mustangs against the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Though Cal Poly lost the match, Walters said the team’s style of play foreshadowed its potential.
“It’s a little bit of baptism by fire to play them weekend one, but we absolutely crushed them in set one,” she recalls. “It was one set of absolute brilliance that I think really was a preview of what this group could do.”
First photo: Head coach Caroline Walters on the sidelines. Second photo: Players execute a block during a home game against UNC in Mott Gym. Third photo: The team celebrates after scoring a point during a post-season match against USC.
Committing to the Process
Cal Poly’s coaching staff cultivated athletes who were committed to playing for one another with a sense of altruism. The squad held high standards for the way they played and how hard they worked, instead of expectations about certain outcomes. That culture was born in practice — lots of practice.
“We play a ton of volleyball in our gym, which I know sounds funny,” Walters said. “But I’ve watched a lot of practices of other college programs, and it’s a lot of slow skill development. I can’t live in that world.”
The Mustangs trained by playing six-on-six matches to pick up different reads and experience the joy of the game itself. The team analyzed film on every practice and match to optimize on-court performance. The coaching staff made training and games feel similar so players could perfect their mental and physical response to mistakes.
First photo: Kendall Beshear practices her serve in Mott Gym. Second photo: Annabelle Thalken rallies with her teammates in between serves.
For outside hitter Kendall Beshear, who delivered a potent (but risky) jump-spin serve, this approach helped her push past errors.
“That’s arguably as important as when she would score a point, and getting her to understand that was big,” Walters said, noting that Beshear scored 40 service aces and 322 kills in the regular season. “When we got late into November and December, they trusted and believed in the process.”
Making Mott Magic (Even on the Road)
The Mustangs were perfect at home this season with 15 wins, the second multi-season win streak at home in the last decade. “People talk about ‘Mott Magic,’ and it’s a real thing,” Walters attested.
The Mustangs played three weekends at home in September — two preseason tournaments and their first Big West series — as the squad formed its identity on its own court. The gym felt like home, but the community that showed up in San Luis Obispo and on the road is what made the difference.
“The support that we get from the general public, the students and the band is palpable,” said Walters. Mustang Band even traveled to the NCAA regional matches, where Cal Poly upset host BYU and punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The team shows love for the Mustang Band after a home game in Mott Gym.
Fans loved to watch this team excel because they brought their home-court mentality wherever they played.
“There’s no pressure,” Walters said. “There’s a ton of support internally and externally.”
Investing in Athletes
The 2025 season could have been a rebuilding year. The team lost 70% of its offense from the previous season. Middle blocker Breklyn Pulling tore her ACL and meniscus in the offseason. No one on the roster had postseason experience. But Walters saw this group of student-athletes — many of whom were passed over by top-ranked schools — as “a perfect blend of people” with an earnest work ethic and something to prove.
Even more impressive: While every other team in the Sweet 16 had a transfer player in the starting lineup, Cal Poly’s players all began their careers as Mustangs. In an era of transfer options offering lucrative NIL deals, Walters said that was rare. “I think it just speaks to who we are and what we do: we want to develop kids, and that takes time.”
Walters points to outside hitter Emma Frederick, who led the team across many offensive categories. In her sophomore season, she racked up a team-high 352 kills, 930 total attacks and 30 service aces. Then there was setter Emme Bullis, who Walters said found a new level of joy and leadership skills in her fifth year as she notched more than 1,000 assists. Combined with Beshear’s epic serves and big swings, the energy of the offense was hard to stop.
First photo: Setter Emme Bullis at the net during Cal Poly’s match against the University of Hawaii. Second photo: Libero Elif Hurriyet dives for the ball on her home court. Third photo: The team notches a point against USC during post-season play.
On defense, Chloe Leluge became the Big West Tournament’s MVP after recording 109 total blocks on the season and leading the team with a .374 hitting percentage. Libero Elif Hurriyet, who is originally from Istanbul, Turkey, helped lead the defense with 344 digs. Middle blocker Charlotte Kelly stepped in as a true freshman to fill Pulling’s spot with 107 total blocks, 149 kills and a .315 hitting percentage.
Even Brooklyn Burns, who retired from volleyball after fighting cancer, served as a liaison between players and coaches throughout the season. Lose any one of those pieces, and Walters said it could have compromised the team’s success.
“We love winning, we love volleyball, but more than anything, I love that we’ve created a program —coupled with a wonderful school in what I consider the most beautiful place in America — that keeps these kids here.”
What's Next
Walters says the team’s chemistry and momentum will carry over to next season. Even after many players gained major notoriety in the Sweet 16, not a single athlete transferred away from Cal Poly. The 2026 season will certainly be one to watch.
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