Davis, Calif. – It was a block party for UC Davis as the Aggies volleyball team defeated rival Sacramento State, 3-1, to claim the Causeway Cup points in their home opener on Monday at the University Credit Union Center in Davis, Calif.
The Aggies improved to 4-2 on the season while the Hornets dropped to 2-4.
"We blocked really well," head coach
Dan Conners said. "52 digs is a solid performance. They hit only .142 on the night so our defense was pretty good in the win."
The Aggies combined for 16 blocks and 59 kills, both of which totaled for season-highs early in the year.
Senior
Josephine Ough led the block party with four solo blocks and four block assists while accompanying 11 kills. Ough's eight total blocks put her fifth all-time on the Aggies total blocks list.
"It means a lot to me," Ough said. "I'm really excited to beat that record. It's nice being super tall. It's definitely an advantage. I have been practicing a lot. I'm still critiquing to this day."
Five Aggies put up double-digit kills with sophomore
Olivia Utterback paving the way with 14, Ough with 11, junior
Lana Radakovic with 11, sophomore
Megan Lenn with 10, and redshirt junior
Demari Webb with 10.
A back-and-forth contest, the Aggies jumped out front with a 1-0 lead after finishing set 1 on a high note by a score of 25-20. Lenn collected five of her ten kills in the opening frame.
The Hornets stung back in set 2, but it went past the distance by a margin of 27-25. There was 13 tie scores and six lead changes during the second set.
In a pivotal third set, UC Davis responded with a burst of momentum from the home crowd and Ough's blocking, jumping out to a 15-9 lead before Sacramento State took a timeout. A couple aces by Lenn and some more stellar defense by the Aggies propelled them to a 25-16 set victory.
To wrap up the fourth and final set, the Aggies continued to pile on the blocks, holding steady on both ends of the court to gain a 11-6 advantage. The Hornets attempted to comeback but proved to no avail as the Aggies slammed the door shut with a finishing block by Radakovic, 25-22.
The Aggies hit the road once again as they prepare to face No. 1 Texas in Austin, Texas on Wednesday.
