SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Senior outside hitter Emily Allen scored a match-high 17 kills while senior libero Malia Bolko picked up 26 digs, helping UC Davis overcome a first-set deficit to snare a four-set, 25-27, 25-13, 25-19, 25-21 win over Boise State in Friday's portion of the Santa Clara Invitational women's volleyball tournament at the Leavey Center.
The Aggies win their third straight match to improve to 6-2 overall. The Broncos suffer their first loss of the 2018 season, falling to 6-1.
Allen committed only five hitting errors on 50 total swings to lead UC Davis offensively. Junior Lauren Matias provided another 11 kills, redshirt freshman Leonie Strehl contributed a career-best nine kills, while senior Brianna Karsseboom chipped in another eight kills with just one hitting error. The Aggies also totaled 11 blocks, with senior Lauren Jackson and sophomore Alexa Rockas claiming four each.
For BSU, left-side hitters Sabryn Roberts and Janell Walley each had 12 kills but the Broncos struggled to 34 attacking errors and a .081 average, in part because of UC Davis' net and floor defense.
UC Davis will take on tourney host Santa Clara at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
MATCH NOTES & HIGHLIGHTS
• The first set featured eight ties, including five from 16-16 through 20-20... UC Davis led 23-20 after a Rockas tip, then a missed BSU line shot gave the Aggies a 24-21 set point... Walley and sophomore OH Kiley Lewis each scored twice in a 6-1 Bronco finish to the frame.
• Boise State went from 16 kills in the first set to just five in the second, while UC Davis nearly halved its attacking errors from nine to just five in its dominating set win... The Aggies stormed to a 13-5 lead, with Strehl checking into the match to record two kills and a block assist during that run... A subsequent 7-0 onslaught gave UC Davis a commanding 23-10 advantage, then Allen's 10th kill provided UC Davis with set point.
• Some early attacking struggles from the Boise side of the tape gave the Aggies a 9-4 start to the third, then UC Davis maintained at least that margin the rest of the way... Strehl and Allen each had four kills in a block in the third, while Bolko picked up 11 digs.
• Boise State employed a 10-3 run in taking a 12-9 lead in the fourth, only to have Karsseboom post a kill and a service ace in a 7-1 response, giving the Aggies a 16-13 edge... The Broncos later equalized at 19-19 and 20-20 until another Karsseboom ace and a Matias-Jackson block began a 5-1 finish for UC Davis.
ABOUT UC DAVIS: Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 6-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.
AGGIE EVO: Established in 2017-18, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.
