DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis battled extremely well against a talented UC Santa Barbara team that received votes in the most recent national poll, taking the Gauchos to five sets, but the visitors would escape with the victory on Saturday afternoon.
Two sets would go beyond 25 points, including a 33-31 thriller in the opening frame. It would come down to the wire as UC Santa Barbara edged out the final frame 15-11 to improve to 16-2 (6-0 Big West) while UC Davis suffered its second straight defeat to fall to 9-7 (4-2 Big West)
It might have been a slow start for the Aggies' star outside hitter,
Olivia Utterback, but the junior rebounded for a solid day, matching the game-high with her 17 kills. The Plainfield, Ind. native earned her second consecutive double-double - and seventh of the season - with her 11 digs.
Reese Diersbock got into double figures with 12 kills on the day while
Jade Light and
Amara Aimufua chipped with eight kills apiece.
Haden Bones got her first career start at the setter position and impressed with 14 assists and six digs while splitting time with
Mia Starr, who enjoyed a double-double with 18 assists and 17 digs.
Also earning her first career start was
Makena Morrison at the libero spot. The sophomore racked up 20 digs and produced four service aces in a good showing from the Whittier native.
Set 1
The opening set would set the tone in the five-set conference thriller, resulting in a 33-31 victory to the visitors after the two teams would trade blow after blow down the stretch. The Gauchos took a 13-7 lead when Michelle Ohwobete started to find some rhythm offensively. UC Davis would regain its footing, however, when a 7-2 scoring run cut the deficit to just one point.
UCSB built another four-point cushion, but the Aggies answered the call yet again, erasing the deficit to tie the score at 22-22. It seemed as the visitors were going to sneak away with the opening set victory after winning the next two points, but the hosts fought off two straight set points to send the frame to deuce. This is where the teams would go back-and-forth for the remainder of the set and despite the feverous comeback from the Aggies, the Gauchos would snatch the first set.
Set 2
The talented Gauchos showed their class in the second set, pulling away after trailing early in the frame. UC Davis showed fight but UCSB would hold off any comeback attempts to take the set 25-20.
Set 3
Davis' team started to fire on all cylinders in the third set with its backs against the wall, racing to a 6-1 lead. UC Santa Barbara would turn the tables, however, rallying to take a 10-8 advantage. Diersbock started to take some nice swings later in the set, knocking down a pair of kills before Starr delivered an ace to give her team a 19-16 lead.
The Gauchos would not go away, making the score 24-23 to force a match point. UC Davis' resilience was on full display as it shook off the match point and roared to the 27-25 win to send things to a fourth set.
Set 4
The Aggies cruised to the 25-16 win in the fourth set, the only set that would prove to be decided early on. Utterback and
Ally Chandler set the tone by combining for four kills and UCSB would sputter offensively, allowing UC Davis to send the match to a decisive fifth set.
Set 5
After dropping two straight sets, UC Santa Barbara showed why it has been so highly-regarded in the national polls by taking an early 7-3 advantage. The resilient Ags pulled it back to 7-7, but another surge from the visitors would allow the Gauchos to win the last set 15-11 to prevail in the five-set thriller.
Up Next
The Ags head back on the road on Oct. 13 for a matchup with Long Beach State to continue their conference slate. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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