Box Score DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis erased a two-set deficit to send the match to a decisive fifth frame, but visiting UC Irvine held off the comeback attempt to secure the 3-2 victory on Thursday night in the University Credit Union Center.
 
"Once we start believing in ourselves and each other, we will be scary," said Head Coach Dan Conners. "We have to believe."
 
The Aggies fall to 11-12 overall (6-7 Big West) as they have now dropped three straight contests and remain winless at home. The Anteaters improve to 8-16 (6-7 Big West) to draw level with UC Davis in sixth place in the Big West standings.
 
Inconsistency on the offensive end was the downfall for Davis' team as it hit .257 in set one and an impressive .435 in set three, but hit below .200 in the each of the remaining sets. On the night, the Aggies posted a hitting percentage of .190 with 26 attack errors. UC Davis also struggled at the service line with 15 service errors.
 
Olivia Utterback rebounded from a tough start to earn her eighth double-double of the season while tallying a season-high and team-high 19 digs. The junior caught fire down the stretch and finished with 12 kills to reach double-digits.
 
Amara Aimufua enjoyed her first game in double figures since early October with her 13-kill display to lead her squad, doing it at a .360 clip.
 
Ally Chandler put down a career-high 10 kills while coming up with six blocks on the defensive end in an excellent night for the freshman while Megan Lenn knocked down eight kills while racking up 12 digs.
 
Moving back to the 6-2, Mia Starr tallied 30 assists while Casi Newman went for 20 as the duo combined for 50 total assists which is the third most for UC Davis this season.
 
Also putting in a solid performance was Julia Ng with her 18 digs.
 
Set 1
The first set was the most competitive of the match as neither team could seem to find a breakthrough. With the score tied at 18-18, the Anteaters rattled off two straight points to take an advantage they would not surrender, grabbing the 25-22 win.
 
Set 2
Set number two would finish with the same score as the first, but it would look a lot different as the Aggies' mistakes were glaring. UC Davis committed nine attack errors and three service errors to gift UC Irvine 12 total points in the set. The visitors used a 9-2 run to create separation, and despite a decent comeback from the hosts, the Anteaters would hold on for another 25-22 win.
 
Set 3
The Aggies, slightly unexpectedly, rallied for their most dominant set of the season in the third frame. Hitting .435 and using four kills from Aimufua to post an incredible 25-8 score, UC Davis recorded its highest margin of victory in a set this season. It was an outstanding display from the Aggies who exploded for 13 kills and four service aces in the frame.
 
Set 4
The fourth set was much tighter, but UC Davis still cruised to victory to force a decisive fifth set. A 5-0 run from the hosts set the tone and UC Irvine was unable to recover. The Anteaters clawed within two to make the score 21-19, but an ace from Haden Bones and kill from Reese Diersbock allowed the Aggies to even things up at 2-2 to set up an exciting fifth frame.
 
Set 5
The two teams went back-and-forth in the first half of the set, however, UC Irvine would take an 8-7 lead when the teams would switch sides. The visitors took this momentum to the finish line, earning the 15-10 win to snatch the five-set victory.
 
Up Next
The Ags remain at home to host Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 4. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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