CAL POLY BEACH VOLLEYBALL
For the 2021 spring season, I was hired by Cal Poly Athletics to be a nationally ranked beach volleyball team's exclusive team photographer, covering almost every home match for both communication and marketing purposes. The season was nothing short of historic, with the 2021 season marking the program's third 20+ win season, second Big West Title and first ever NCAA tournament win in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Individually, the ladies strived as well. Emily Sonny became the first Mustang to reach 100 career pairs victory. Sonny and teammate Macy Gordon won Big West Pair of the Week a record four times and later were named first-team All Americans. Tia Miric and Mariah Whalen were the first Mustangs to be honored with an AVCA Pair of the Week after an undefeated weekend at the Big West Tournament. And to top it all off, Coach Todd Rogers secured his 100th career win as head coach for Cal Poly.
Josie Ulrich (30) lays out for a dig as #5 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball faces #10 Hawaii at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
Tia Miric (2) and Mariah Whalen (1) react to winning their court as #5 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball faces #10 Hawaii at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, March 27, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball cheers before taking on #2 USC at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday, April 16, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Emily Sonny (11) serves against #8 Grand Canyon University at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday, April 16, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Josie Ulrich (30) and Vanessa Roscoe (31) celebrate a point against #8 Grand Canyon University at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday, April 16, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Tia Miric (2) serves against #8 Grand Canyon University at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday, April 16, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Sam Strah (22) and Eleonore Johansen (15) celebrate their win against #8 Grand Canyon University at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Friday, April 16, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics)
Players warm up before #6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball faces #1 UCLA at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Sam Strah (22) dives for a dig against #1 UCLA at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Josie Ulrich (30) looks to regroup with Vanessa Roscoe (31) after loosing a point to #1 UCLA at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Coach Todd Rogers watches against #5 LMU at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
Fans watch on from the Performing Arts Center Parking Structure as #6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball takes on #5 LMU at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Macy Gordon (10) celebrates a point against #5 LMU at the Second Annual Center for Effort Beach Volleyball Challenge at Swanson Family Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Jayelin Lombard (3) digs against Santa Clara at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Jayelin Lombard (3) drops some sand to gauge the wind against Santa Clara at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Macy Gordon (10) and Emily Sonny (11) high five before playing against St. Mary’s at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
#6 Cal Poly Beach Volleyball’s Josie Ulrich (30) spikes against St. Mary’s at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Kyle Calzia / Cal Poly Athletics
The 2021 Big West Beach Volleyball Tournament trophy awaits a winner. Cal Poly came into the tournament as the defending champions, and the Mustangs plan to again win the tournament in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Kyle Calzia
#6 Cal Poly's Sam Strah (22) dives for a dig against #18 CSU Long Beach in the semi-final match of the 2021 Big West Beach Volleyball Tournament in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Kyle Calzia
#6 Cal Poly’s Eleonore Johansen (15) jumps as she wins her court against #15 Hawaii in the second championship match of the 2021 Big West Beach Volleyball Tournament in Long Beach, Calif. on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Eleonore Johansen (15) and Sam Strah’s (22) win sealed the championship for the Mustangs. Kyle Calzia
