Score: UC Davis 2, Hawai'i 3
Set Scores: (22-25, 25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 13-15)
Location: Irvine, Calif. (Bren Events Center)
Records: UC Davis 19-10 (1-1), UC Irvine 20-9 (1-0)
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The short story: UC Davis wrapped up their volleyball season in the semifinals of the 2024 Outrigger Big West Women's Volleyball Championship, losing in five sets to the number two seed Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors.
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FIRST SERVE
- Olivia Utterback led the Aggies with another double-double, putting up 18 kills and 16 digs, also protecting the net with a team-high five blocks.
- Mia Starr compiled a team-high 44 assists in the match.
- Utterback (5), Chandler (4), and Caldwell (4) led the team in total blocks.
- In addition to Utterback, Julia Ng (15), and Starr (13) also posted double-digit digs.
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HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
- The Aggies and Rainbow Warriors traded points to open the match, with a kill from Olivia Utterback tying things up early at eight apiece.
- A few plays later, Hawai'i began to heat up, scoring nine of 10 to take a dominant 20-11 lead.
- With Hawai'i up 24-16 on the verge of taking the set, Utterback stepped up to service, leading the Aggies to six straight points, but the rally came up short as the Rainbow Warriors would take the first 25-22.
- Set number two began very similar to the first, with both clubs tied at eight before Davis began a dominant run of their own, rattling off seven straight.
- Down 8-15, Hawai'i responded with a 6-2 run, putting them within striking distance with the score reading 17-14 in favor of the Aggies.Â
- However, Davis finished the set strong, using a 3-0 run followed by a 4-0 run to put the game on ice 25-16 and tie the match 1-1.
- The third was a set of runs, starting with a 4-0 run from the Aggies followed by five straight from the Rainbow Warriors to put them up 7-5 early.
- With Davis down 13-19, errors from their opponent gave them life, cashing in on a 4-0 run to find themselves down only two.
- As the Aggies gained momentum, Hawai'i began to fight back, holding their opponent to only three points down the stretch to win set three 25-20 and take a 2-1 lead.
- Up 16-15 halfway through the fourth, Davis began to exchange kills with Hawai'i, keeping the set tied at 21.
- Led by the service of Ximena Cordero Barr, the Ags didn't allow the Rainbow Warriors another point, scoring the last four of the set with an ace and three kills to take set four 25-21 and send the match to a decisive fifth set.
- Davis started the fifth strong, using a balanced offense from Jade Light and Ally Chandler to score seven of the first 11 to force their opponent into a timeout.
- Coming out of the break, Hawai'i got hot, scoring six straight to take a slim three-point lead.
- The Aggies responded with a 3-0 run to tie it up at 10.
- Down the wire, both clubs capitalized on kills to see the fifth tied at 13. Long rallies followed for both teams, but the last two points went the way of the Rainbow Warriors as they won the set 15-13 and emerge victorious 3-2.
UP NEXT: The Aggies will await the results of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship selection show on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5:00 p.m. PT to see if they qualify to continue their season.Â
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