BRISTOL, Conn. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Volleyball's 2026 home match versus Cal Poly has been selected as the sole Big West Women's Volleyball match to be broadcast on ESPNU this season. The showdown will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 in The Thunderdome and will be nationally televised. 

The broadcast will join California Baptist vs. Oregon State as the two Big West events featured on ESPNU in the 2026 fall season. In 2021, the Blue-Green Rivalry match up was the first Big West Women's Volleyball match to be featured on ESPNU, and 2025 aired Hawai'i versus Long Beach State in Walter Pyramid. 

Cal Poly is returning to the court as the 2025 Conference Champion, while UC Santa Barbara will present 2025 Freshman of the Year Gabi Martinez and new Head Coach Michael Henchy. The rivals went 1-1 last season, with both matches going five sets and each team winning at home. 

Following the event, the teams will rematch in San Luis Obispo's Mott Athletics Center on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7:00 p.m.