Cal Poly is becoming a family tradition for the Van Winden’s and both Torrey and Adlee are attending the school that their parents once did.
This wasn’t always the case, as Torrey started her collegiate career with UCLA for her freshman season. There Torrey was a First Team All-Pac-12 selection as well as to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. She helped the Bruins to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season and will look to crush their spirits this year as the two teams meet in the second round of the tournament.
Torrey and Adlee played together growing up and last season was one of the first times that they were not on the court together. Torrey’s move to Cal Poly was inevitable, by her account, as she wasn’t looking to go there originally, but wanted to stay in California. The limited options that offered both indoor and beach volleyball landed her at UCLA for a year. Torrey described the move to Cal Poly as a “quality of life over a quality of volleyball” – essentially equating to the level of play that the Pac-12 offers over the Big West. Though, for Torrey having the security of her sister on the team was a huge factor in the transfer.
The support that Torrey has gotten from both her sister and the coaching staff has been far better at Cal Poly, according to Torrey.
“I’m thankful in so many ways that Torrey is here but mostly just to see her happy is like one of the best feelings in the world,” said Adlee.
The two have gelled well on the court this season, with Torrey opening up so many options for the Cal Poly offense. Both the Van Winden sister have led the Mustang offense this season with Torrey posting 472 kills for an average of 4.87 kills per set along with 214 digs and 58 blocks while Adlee has put down 325 kills for an average of 3.35 kills per set and 235 digs.
The Mustangs lost just two matches this season to accumulate a 27-2 record and 16-0 conference mark. This season mark is the best for the program since 1985 and best Big West finish. The Mustangs are also riding a 21 match win streak into the NCAA Tournament with their last loss coming to Oregon on September 7.
The Mustangs have now made their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007 and 15th overall.
In their first-round match, Cal Poly drew Denver to which they swept on their way to the second round matchup against Torrey’s old program, UCLA.
“I’m just so happy that I’m finally in the right jersey when I’m back here,” said Torrey.
"I’m just so happy that I’m finally in the right jersey when I’m back here."
~@CalPolyVolley soph Torrey Van Winden. #RideHigh #PlayBig ??
?: @5browncrew pic.twitter.com/jy5912fqAi
— Big West Volleyball (@BigWestWVB) December 2, 2017
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