OREM, Utah — Senior Lauren Matias finished with a match-high 16 kills while sophomore Mahalia White added 14 more and hit a match-hit .391, helping the UC Davis women's volleyball team dispatch Portland State, 27-25, 25-21, 25-19, in the finale of the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Wolverine Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

The Aggies claimed their first win of the tournament, improving to 5-2 overall and claiming their fourth three-set victory of the year.

Led by six kills apiece from Parker Webb and Toni McDougald, Portland State fell to 2-4 overalll.

Matias posted her third double-digit kill performance in her last five matches, narrowly missing out on her third double-double of the season by adding nine digs. Meanwhile, White -- who picked up her second all-tournament nod of the year -- tied her season high with her 14 kills, posting double digits for the third time in her last four matches and the second time this weekend.

In a back-and-forth opening set, the Aggies trailed by four at 15-11 before an error by the Vikings gave the ball back to UC Davis and Ally Reyes. The senior then served the Aggies to four straight points to tie the match and UC Davis took its first lead since 8-7 when Matias recorded a kill two points later.

The Aggies had set point at 24-22 on a kill by freshman Demari Webb, but Portland State rallied again, scoring three straight to give the Vikings their own set point at 25-24. The UC Davis defense then came up huge, as White and Josephine Ough stuffed an attack at the net, and the Aggies capitalized on an error and a kill by White to put away the opening set and take a 1-0 lead.

Another back-and-forth set ensued in the second as UC Davis finally found a groove late, scoring eight of the final 10 points in the period to take a 2-0 lead in the match, then put the pedal to the metal in the third, never trailing in the set and using a 7-0 run midway through to take a 15-5 lead.

UC Davis eventually led 21-9 and held set point at 24-13 before a short burst by the Vikings held off six set points by the Aggies before freshman Perri Starkey found the floor with a kill to end the match.

Sophomore setter Jane Seslar finished with 40 assists, four blocks, and six digs on the day, reaching the 40-assist plateau for the second time this season (48 vs. Sacramento State), while Reyes matched Matias' output with nine digs for UC Davis and Ough led the way with six blocks.

The Aggies remain on the road next week, heading to Vermillion, S.D., to compete at the South Dakota Classic along with the host Coyotes, Wyoming, and Iowa. UC Davis opens against its host on Friday (Sept. 13) at 10 a.m. PT, before facing the Hawkeyes at 2:30 p.m. The Aggies close against the Cowgirls on Saturday (Sept. 14) at 8:30 a.m. PT.

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 Times Higher Education, 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
Launched 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.

MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 women's athletics programs. Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year. All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs. Visit https://give.ucdavis.edu/ATHG/324041 for more information.