1/31-2/1/26 - President’s Day Qualifier 2026
Day 1
Game 1 – Cal Poly SLO B: 5–13 Loss
The first game against SLO B began very early, but the team was wide awake following a strong warmup. The squad felt confident and played well against one of the top teams at the tournament. Throughout the first half, the team put everything on the line and maintained the same tempo for the entirety of the game, applying strong defensive pressure. Although the offense performed well overall, any mistakes were quickly capitalized on by SLO B, resulting in breaks. Despite the loss, the team was proud of the effort displayed during the match.
Game 2 – UC Berkeley B: 8–10 Loss
In the second game of the day, the team maintained the same level of effort shown in the first matchup. Berkeley’s offense was effectively shut down, and the team moved the disc well against Cal B’s zone defense. Strong play continued through halftime, with a 7–6 lead. In the second half, momentum shifted as execution against the zone faltered, allowing Cal B to earn multiple breaks and ultimately secure the win at hard cap. While effort remained consistent, too many mistakes in key points led to the loss. Spirits were low afterward, but a refuel and rest during a bye helped the team reset for the next game.
Game 3 – UC Santa Cruz B: 7–12 Loss
At the start of the match, overall energy was lower than usual. Having faced this team before, the Squids knew the matchup would be challenging. Ooze’s tall last back shut down deep looks, forcing the Squids to rely on under cuts. Several turnovers in the handler set led to conceded points, resulting in a 7–12 loss to Santa Cruz. Despite the result, the Squids performed significantly better than in previous meetings. With one final game remaining, the team took time to refocus and prepare to leave everything on the field.
Game 4 – Chico State: 7–13 Loss
Due to an odd number of teams in the pool, the Squids played four games—one more than most other teams. Fatigue was evident after a long day, though the team was aware that Chico State’s offense relied heavily on handler movement rather than cutters. In blistering heat and mounting exhaustion, the Squids struggled to stop consistent under cuts. The game ended in a 7–13 loss, but the team still put forth a strong effort considering the demanding schedule that began at 8 a.m.
Day 2
Game 5 – San Diego State B: 11–5 Win
The first game of the following day featured strong winds early on, disrupting offensive flow for both teams. Despite the conditions, the Squids built and maintained a steady lead, earning several breaks in a row. The team matched up athletically and executed systems efficiently, securing the first official win of the season. While proud of the result and effort, the team recognized that execution errors remained and could have been costly if capitalized on.
Game 6 – Cal Poly–Pomona: 4–12 Loss
Entering the next matchup feeling confident, the Squids struggled to overcome Pomona’s zone defense in unpredictable wind conditions. After a difficult first half, the team elevated its play on both offense and defense, making the second half competitive at 4–5. With limited experience against zone defenses and windy conditions, the Squids still delivered a solid performance highlighted by aggressive defense, though significant pressure on handlers proved difficult to overcome.
Game 7 – Cal Poly SLO C: 11–9 Win
Following a tough loss, the Squids entered the final game motivated to finish strong. The team opened the first half with a couple of holds and a break but went into halftime trailing 4–7. Fatigue and wind were factors, but with it being the last game of the tournament, the Squids pushed forward and battled back to tie the game at 9–9. During a long point approximately 20 yards from the end zone, a timeout was called to set up an anti-abyss play, which succeeded and gave the Squids a 10–9 lead. Another break followed, highlighted by strong handler movement, sealing an 11–9 victory.
