OPENING RIDE: The UC Davis Equestrian team returns to action this weekend in their inaugural meet of the 2019-20 season when they travel to Waco, Tex. to take on Baylor and Delaware State this Friday and Saturday.
The Aggies, fresh off a Blue and Gold Inter-squad scrimmage on Sept. 27, are competing for the first time this season and one of just three times before the calendar turns to 2020. Two of those meets will be at home though after hosting just two in all of a shortened 2018-19 season.
UC Davis will host No. 4 Oklahoma State in their next action on Oct. 26 and No. 9 Fresno State on Nov. 15. January 31, 2020's home date against No. 1 Auburn will make it three home meets in a row for the Aggies.
THIS WEEK…
WHAT: 11th Annual Willis Invitational
WHO: Baylor/Delaware State
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 4, Saturday Oct. 5
WHERE: Willis Family Equestrian Center, Waco, Tex.
LIVE SCORING: https://baylorbears.com/sports/2018/5/16/sports-w-equest-1718-OSU-scoring-html.aspx
SCHEDULE
Friday: vs. Baylor at approx. 2 p.m. (Flat, Reining)
Saturday: vs. Baylor at 10 a.m. (Fences, Horsemanship)
Saturday: vs. Delaware State at 11:15 a.m.
SCOUTING THE BEARS: Baylor has claimed all ten previous Willis Invitational titles, sweeping all three matchups in the 2018 tournament with wins over then-No. 8 Fresno State, UT Martin and a 14-2 victory over Delaware State. The Bears enter ranked eighth in the country in the latest National Collegiate Equestrian Association rankings released on Tuesday. That ranking comes on the heels of a defeat to No. 5 SMU last week where the Bears won Fences but were swept in Flat and Reining.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS: Delaware State opened the season on Sept. 28, earning a 9-2 victory over SUNY New Paltz with 5-1 and 4-1 wins on the Flat and Fences.
SERIES NOTES: UC Davis owns a 1-0 advantage in their all-time history against Delaware State. The Hornets were the first ever opponent the Aggies faced in competition during 2019's inaugural equestrian season at UC Davis. The Aggies prevailed 10-5 over Delaware State on January 31st, taking home a pair of MOPs that day in Lilly Ulrich (Fences) and Keely Laughlin (Flat).
UC Davis will face Baylor for the first time in program history.
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. 5-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.
