Unranked and Unstoppable: Cal Poly is Volleyball's New Upset Machine!

December 7, 2025

Forget what the polls say—there’s a new giant killer loose in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament, and they gallop out of San Luis Obispo! That's right, the unranked Cal Poly Mustangs have been absolutely shattering brackets and turning the tournament into their own personal playground.

The Mustangs, who came into the tournament after winning the Big West Championship, clearly didn't get the memo that they were supposed to be the underdog. They're playing like a team that just saw a "Free Upset" sign posted on the back of every ranked uniform!

First, in the opening round, they faced the No. 5 seed, #22-ranked BYU Cougars. What did Cal Poly do? They said "hold my stirrup" and pulled off a thrilling five-set comeback victory, showing the nation they were here to dance.

But they weren't done warming up!

In the Second Round, they stared down the No. 4 seed, #14-ranked USC Trojans at their home court. Another ranked team, another gritty five-set battle, and another monumental win for the Mustangs! They became the only unseeded team to advance to the Sweet 16, leaving a trail of busted predictions in their wake.

Key Players

• ​Emma Fredrick has been a force, delivering monster double-doubles, including a match-high 17 kills and 17 digs against USC.

• Kendall Beshear brought the thunder against BYU with 20 kills and 12 digs, proving that this team has firepower to go toe-to-toe with the nation's best.

Will the Mustangs keep the Cinderella story going? They are set to face the No. 1 seed, #2-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, next!