Cal Poly Beach Volleyball Battles No. 1 Stanford in Close Match

The Cardinal extend their unbeaten streak to 15 matches with a narrow 3-2 victory over the No. 6 Mustangs.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:06am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the beach volleyball match between Stanford and Cal Poly, with overlapping planes of color and form representing the dynamic action and competitive energy of the event.A cubist interpretation of the intense beach volleyball battle between Stanford and Cal Poly, capturing the dynamic action and competitive spirit of the closely contested match.Laguna Beach Today

The top-ranked Stanford beach volleyball team defeated No. 6 Cal Poly 3-2 in a closely contested match in Laguna Beach, California on April 4, 2026. The result extended Stanford's unbeaten streak to 15 matches and brought the Cardinal's overall record to 27-2. The match came down to the wire, with Stanford clinching the decisive point on court three in a tight three-set battle.

Why it matters

This hard-fought match between two top-ranked programs showcases the growing competitiveness of college beach volleyball. Despite the loss, Cal Poly's performance demonstrates their potential to challenge the nation's elite teams, while Stanford's ability to grind out a victory against a tough opponent reinforces their status as the team to beat.

The details

Stanford established an early 2-0 lead by securing straight-set victories on courts four and five. Cal Poly responded by winning three-set matches on courts one and two to tie the contest. The deciding point came on court three, where Stanford's Charlotta Bell and Logan Tusher faced Cal Poly's Julia Westby and Elise Lenahan. Bell and Tusher won the first set 21-19, but Westby and Lenahan claimed the second set 21-19 to force a decisive third set. Bell and Tusher ultimately prevailed 16-14 in the third to clinch the match for Stanford.

  • The match took place on April 4, 2026 in Laguna Beach, California.
  • Stanford's victory extended their unbeaten streak to 15 matches.

The players

Charlotta Bell

A sophomore on the Stanford beach volleyball team who clinched the decisive point against Cal Poly.

Logan Tusher

A sophomore on the Stanford beach volleyball team who teamed up with Charlotta Bell to win the match-clinching point.

Julia Westby

A player on the Cal Poly beach volleyball team who competed in the close three-set match on court three.

Elise Lenahan

A player on the Cal Poly beach volleyball team who teamed up with Julia Westby in the tight three-set match on court three.

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What they’re saying

“This was a great battle between two talented teams. I'm proud of how our team competed and pushed Stanford to the limit.”

— Sam Crosson, Cal Poly Head Coach

“We knew Cal Poly would give us a tough fight, and I'm glad our team was able to grind out the win. This will only make us stronger as we continue our season.”

— Denise Corlett, Stanford Head Coach

What’s next

Stanford will look to continue their unbeaten streak when they face off against No. 3 UCLA on April 18th. Cal Poly will have a chance to rebound when they take on No. 8 Pepperdine on April 25th.

The takeaway

This close match between top-10 programs highlights the growing parity in college beach volleyball. While Stanford's dominance continues, Cal Poly's strong performance shows they have the talent to compete with the nation's elite teams. Both squads will look to build on this experience as they gear up for the postseason.