Sept. 19, 2015

FRESNO, Calif. -

Junior opposite Kendall Walbrecht totaled 12 kills with only two errors but UC Davis was unable to contain the Bulldog attack, falling by scores of 25-17, 25-20, 25-15 to the hosts of the Fresno State Classic women's volleyball tournament at the Save Mart Center Saturday.

The Aggies fall to 5-9 for the season. The Bulldogs improve to 8-6 overall.

Walbrecht compiled a .385 hitting average to go with three blocked shots and an ace. Senior outside hitter Kaylin Squyres managed another double-double of 11 kills and 12 digs, but overall, UC Davis managed just a .191 average as a team.

For FSU, senior outside hitter Zana Bownes had 11 kills with no errors en route to a .440 success rate. Sophomore Carly Scarbrough added an 8-0-18 line while Maggie Epright and Jacque Hutcheson posted dig totals of 17 and 14, respectively.

UC Davis nearly trailed wire to wire in all three sets. Freshman opposite Nicola Moore hit 4-for-6 in the opener while Walbrecht managed 6-for-10, but Fresno State junior Aleisha Coates hit three kills to help her team craft a 12-7 lead. Freshman Taylor Slover later put away three kills during a 6-1 run that made it 21-10. Walbrecht fired three kills down the stretch but the deficit proved too wide for the Aggies to overcome.

In the second set, it was Bowens who sparked the Bulldogs to the lead they would not relinquish. She had three kills and a block assist during a 12-6 start. Walbrecht continued to shine offensively, bringing the Aggies to within four points on three different occasions, only to have Fresno State score four straight in extended its lead to 21-13. Senior middle blocker Jillian Johnson served UC Davis back to within a 22-19 margin, but Scarbrough converted the side out after a Bulldog timeout. She and Jordyn Griggs teamed up for a stuff for set point, then Bowens put away the winner to give FSU a 2-0 match lead into the break.

Squyres and Walbrecht combined for seven kills in the third but the Bulldogs worked efficiently to close out the sweep. Bowens hit 4-for-9 to help FSU hit .379 on just two attacking errors. Coates posted a pair of aces on the serving side while Taylor Slover contributed on two of the 'Dogs three blocks in the finale.

In all, Bulldogs committed only nine attacking errors for a .330 hitting average.

The Fresno State Classic closes out the non-conference portion of the Aggies' 2015 season. Big West Conference play begins on Friday and Saturday with road matches at Long Beach State and CSUN.