SAN DIEGO - Just a day after their loss to UC Santa Barbara, the Tritons (10-13, 6-6 Big West) faced another tough competitor in top-ranked Cal Poly on Halloween night. UC San Diego lost against the Mustangs in three sets (25-21, 25-23, 25-14). Cal Poly is undefeated in Big West conference play.  

UC San Diego is now 2-8 against the Mustangs historically, having lost in four sets in their most recent matchup in November 2025. Still without Ireland McNees, the Halloween scaries may have cursed the Tritons. 

Constant ties opened the match against the Mustangs. Coach Spencer McLachlin noted after the game against UC Santa Barbara that the Mustangs run a similar offense to the Tritons, which can explain why the teams tied at every numeral through 10-10. The ties were broken by Gia Rivera’s kill, bringing the Tritons up 12-10, but the Mustangs quickly tied it up again at 12, 13, 15, 16, and 17. The Tritons finally gained a two-point lead and hit 20 points first with a kill by Kylie Parker, but Cal Poly went on a 4-0 scoring run to go up 22-20. The Mustangs closed the first set 25-21. Molly McCluskey and Parker had a team-high four kills each, Brynne McGhie had seven assists, and McCluskey led the team with five digs. 

The Mustangs opened the second set with an early 4-1 lead, but the Tritons took a 6-4 lead after a 5-0 run. The teams stayed close, changing between one, two or three-point leads. Three consecutive points by Cal Poly brought them up 16-11. The Tritons locked in and scored five points to tie at 18. The Mustangs scored two points to hit 20 first, but UC San Diego tied it at 23. The Mustangs scored two more points to claim the second set, 25-23. At the end of the second set, McCluskey led with eight kills and 12 digs, McGhie led with 14 assists, and Madison Johnson led with two block assists. 

“We won the majority of the long rallies in the first two sets, which I was really proud of,” said Coach McLachlin. 

UC San Diego opened with a 2-0 lead. The Mustangs tied the Tritons at 6 before pulling ahead by three after a 6-0 run. That streak was broken by a kill from Lucia Barroso, though Cal Poly continued to score. Down 12-7, the Tritons closed the gap to two after a kill by McCluskey and another from Johnson. That momentum did not last, as the Mustangs scored three straight to lead 18-12. The Mustangs pulled away and took the third and final set 25-14. 

“They’re well put together, balanced at all positions,” said Coach McLachlin. “We needed to serve really well, and we did at times… They pressure you into making very precise swings, and that’s where we miss Ireland.” 

McCluskey led all Tritons with nine kills and 14 digs. McGhie led with 21 assists.

Up next for UC San Diego is a two-game road stretch, facing Utah Valley on Nov. 5 and Sacramento State on Nov. 7, on ESPN+. The Tritons will be back in LionTree Arena on Nov. 13 against Cal State Bakersfield. 

Top photo via Miguel Mejia/Miguel Mejia Photography