By Alexander Franco, November 18, 2025
Cal Poly Pomona’s volleyball team mounted its biggest comeback of the season Nov. 8, down match point 2-0 to conference opponent Cal State East Bay, the Broncos won by a set score of 3-2, extending its win streak to 16.
Leading the charge was outside hitter Elle Walker, who set a new career-high-game with 34 kills. This is the second most kills in CPP history, only behind teammate setter Sarah Ybarra’s 45-kill game against East Bay earlier in the season.
“I think we prepared for East Bay,” said CPP head coach Traci Dahl. “It was a tough match at their place (last game), a super tough match for our team.”
The first two sets belonged to the Pioneers who showed streaks of dominance, as East Bay strung the momentum it gained in the first set and continue on it in the early part of the second set, rallying a five-point streak in the first half, and closing out the set on an 8-1 run, winning the set, 25-16.
Now, down 2-0, the Broncos had their backs against the wall, as they were one set away from losing their first conference game of the season.
After a crucial second set timeout that slowed the Pioneers’ streak, Walker slowly began her career night scoring five kills in the set loss. Three of the kills came immediately off the timeout, but it wasn’t until the third set she took over.
The Broncos opened the third set with the its biggest rally of the night, racking up nine straight points in a row, as CPP took away the momentum from East Bay all throughout the third set, with multiple players from the Broncos recording multiple kills throughout the set.
Walker would shine in this set, as this would be her highest kill count in a single set this game with 14, leading the Broncos to take a commanding set win, 25-12 only now being down 2-1 in sets.
“Honestly, my mindset was just keep swinging,” Walker said. “Even if I was blocked, I was like ‘Ok, next one, I’m going to keep swinging.’”
The fourth set was filled to the brim with action, as just like last set, the Broncos once again took command in the driver’s seat, starting off hot to a 14-7 set lead.
After a must-need timeout by the Pioneers, this is where East Bay had a rally of their own, tying the score to 16 even.
After a challenge by CPP that became upheld in East Bay’s favor, the set that heavily lobsided, now became the set of the game.
The Broncos battled back with a massive rally spearhead by the likes of Walker and outside hitter Charlotte Koerber, winning the set 25-21, tying the set and forcing a final fifth set.
Heading into the fifth and final set, the Broncos had the advantage of momentum, rallying two separate five-kill scoring streaks to take command ofthe final set. Ssetter Kacie Caoili capped off the set with a game-winning kill.
“(CPP) usually doesn’t go to five sets,” said Assistant Athletics Director Alex Kline. “They’re so dominant that they’ll usually end in three to four sets.”
The Broncos brought their overall record to 18-4, and they improve their conference record to 16-0, keeping the dream alive of staying undefeated in the conference.
Walker’s performance earned her CCAA Volleyball Player of the Week, as this would be the fourth-most kills in a match in CCAA history. Dahl said had it not been for the trials and tribulations in preseason, the team’s regular season performance could’ve been different.
“Had we played a fluff preseason, we probably wouldn’t be going to playoffs,” Dahl said. “You don’t want your first or second weekend to determine the whole season.”
The Broncos will continue their quest to an undefeated season as they play the last two games of the regular season at Kellogg Arena starting with Cal State Dominguez Hills Nov. 13 and Stanislaus State Nov. 15.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics