Nov. 16, 2013
Final Stats
DAVIS, Calif. - Junior middle blocker Victoria Lee amassed nine kills and a .333 average while libero Megan Lancaster posted a match-high 15 digs but UC Davis fell in a three-set, 30-28, 25-19, 25-20 sweep to Cal Poly in Big West Conference women's volleyball action at the Pavilion Saturday afternoon.
The Aggies, who have lost nine straight sets, slip to 14-13 for the year and 6-8 in Big West play. The Mustangs improve to 11-14 overall and 5-7 in conference.
Lee committed just two hitting errors in 21 swings for her team-leading average. Senior Devon Damelio matched that output of nine kills. Freshman Allie Wegener provided a pair of aces and eight digs while sophomore Holland Seymour stepped in for 3-for-3 hitting plus a solo block on a joust. Senior setter Jenny Woolway picked up 11 digs to go with her 32 assists.
For Cal Poly, the triple threat of Megan McConnell, Chelsea Hardin and Taylor Gruenewald posted kills totals of 15, 13 and 10. Libero Nicole Kessler left four Mustangs with double-digit digs at 14 while setter Kate Walters had three of her team's five aces.
UC Davis trailed for almost the entirety of the first set until Damelio's pipe broke a 22-22 tie. The Aggies took another lead when Lee and junior Valerie Brain teamed up for a block to set the board at 26-25. Again, Cal Poly answered with two points. McConnell finally closed out the frame with her tip for the 30th point. The first set was marked by strong floor defense, as each team collected 30 digs. Hardin finished with seven kills in the opener. Woolway and Lancaster each had seven digs as well.
Save for an early 3-2 Aggie lead, the Mustangs dominated the second. They hit 18-1-38 for a .447, with McConnell leading the way individually with six kills on 14 swings. UC Davis hit a respectable .237 in the second but never recovered after Hardin's two kills and a block put up four unanswered Cal Poly points at 15-7. The Aggies fought off three straight set points down the stretch, getting clutch digs from Brain and a late offensive spark from Seymour, but could not fully erase what had been a 24-16 deficit.
Cal Poly continued to control the momentum into the third, extending its lead to 15-8 behind Walters' two aces. UC Davis battled back to just an 18-17 deficit, thanks to timely blocking and hitting from junior Katie Quinn. However, the Mustangs immediately pulled away with four straight points to a 22-17 edge: McConnell scored on a tool while Steffi Sooter's tough serve resulted in a free-ball for her offense. Freshman Kendall Walbrecht came in to provide relief on the left side, sparking UC Davis to within a 22-20 deficit. However, Gera completed a side out and McConnell scored on back-to-back kills to close out the sweep.
The Mustangs outkilled the Aggies by a 51-38 margin and won the digs battle by a 70-65 margin.
UC Davis returns to action on Saturday at Hawai'i, now ranked 12th in the national coaches poll.
