DAVIS, Calif. – After a dazzling opening weekend, the Aggies prepare for a busy three-game week that begins with a contest against local rivals Pacific before traveling to Provo, Utah to take on McNeese State and BYU.
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION
 
TALE OF THE TAPE
Aug. 29 at Pacific | 6 p.m. | Stockton, Calif.
The Aggies are winners of five straight against the Tigers with their last defeat coming in 2011. Pacific holds the all-time series advantage 13-8 while going 6-4 inside its own gym. The Tigers also took part in the season-opening Cactus Class and fell to both of UC Davis' first two opponents, Arizona and North Carolina. Led by All-WCC selections Biamba Kabengele and Alexa Edwards, Pacific will hope to get back on track in its first home game of the year.
 
Sept. 1 vs. McNeese State | 6 p.m. | Provo, Utah
This will mark the first-ever matchup between UC Davis and McNeese State. The Cowgirls also struggled in their opening weekend, going winless over their first three matches. However, the Southland opponents enjoyed a solid 2022, going 18-16 (13-5 Southland) to finish third in the conference. Despite the defeats, Carissa Chainey enjoyed a pair of double-digit kill performances to start her season.
 
Sept. 2 vs. #17 BYU | 4 p.m. | Provo, Utah
The Aggies will wrap up the weekend against nationally ranked BYU on Saturday evening. The talented Cougars come into the contest with a spotless 3-0 record after they were ranked 17^th in the nation prior to the season. BYU posted an impressive 22-7 (14-3 WCC) record a season ago, finishing second in the WCC behind national semifinalists San Diego. UC Davis has only faced BYU once (1976), a match the Cougars won 2-0 on neutral ground. BYU will lean on First Team All-WCC selections Erin Livingston, Whitney Bower, and Whitney McEwan-Llarenas this upcoming weekend.
 
A PERFECT START
UC Davis was firing on all cylinders in the opening weekend, defeating two Power 5 teams in its first two games of the season. The Aggies earned a four-set victory over hosts Arizona, and went on to continue their outstanding form with another win in four sets, this time against North Carolina of the ACC.
 
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN
UC Davis saw significant contributions from five freshman in the opening weekend. Ally Chandler and Reese Diersbock cracked the starting lineup in both matches and came through with some excellent performances. Chandler tallied seven block assists to go along with her six kills in the victory over Arizona and followed it up with another impressive display against North Carolina, racking up seven kills while getting involved in six blocks. Diersbock turned heads in her debut weekend with a pair of 10-kill games while hitting .278.
 
Mia Starr showed outstanding composure in her first collegiate action, notching 17 assists in the season opener before providing 14 assists in the next contest. Allie Caldwell registered 10 block assists over the two contests while Breeze Czapinski saw some time at the outside hitter spot, posting four kills against Arizona.
 
EYES ON THE PRIZE
The Big West will feature a postseason conference tournament for the first time in the conference's history following the 2023 regular season. This brand-new championship event will reward the winner with the league's automatic big into the field of the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship. The Aggies will hope to be playing their best volleyball Nov. 22-25 in Long Beach for the inaugural conference tournament.
 
LIVing UP TO THE HYPE
Headlining an experienced group of returning talent will be Olivia Utterback who was named to the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team. The opposite from Plainfield, Ind. finished second on the team with 265 kills and 335 points. She posted a team-high 35 service aces in 2022 and will bring a veteran presence to the Aggies' locker room.
 
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
UC Davis has added seven talented freshmen to the roster who look to break onto the scene in their first seasons wearing the Blue and Gold.
Two middle blockers, Ally Chandler and Allie Caldwell, will compete for significant playing time at the position while Breeze Czapinski, Reese Diersbock, Rachel Dunagan, and Brooke Hibino will provide depth at outside hitter. Mia Starr rounds out the group of the newcomers as the lone setter of the 2023 signing class.
 
2023 UC DAVIS WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL NEWCOMERS
Allie Caldwell (Middle Blocker, 6'0", San Carlos, CA / Sequoia HS, Rage Westside VBC)
Ally Chandler, (Middle Blocker, 6'2", Loomis, CA / Del Oro HS, Synergy Force)
Breeze Czapinski (Outside Hitter, 5'10", Ramona, CA; Poway HS; San Diego Volleyball Club)
Reese Diersbock (Outside Hitter, 6'0", Kailua, HI / Le Jardin Academy, Ku'ikahi VBC)
Rachel Dunagan (Outside Hitter, 5'10", Albuquerque, NM / Ballard HS, Sudden Impact VBC)
Brooke Hibino (Outside Hitter, 6'1"; Salinas, CA / Salinas HS; Vision VBC)
Mia Starr (Setter, 5'10", Portland, OR / Central Catholic HS, Oregon Juniors Volleyball Academy)
 
Tickets are now on sale. Click HERE or call the UC Davis Ticket Office at 530-752-2471 for more information.
 
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