Score:  UC Davis 3, Kansas State 2
Set Scores:  20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 14-25, 15-13
Location: West Lafayette, Ind. (Holloway Gymnasium)
Records: UC Davis 2-0, Kansas State 0-2
 
The short story: The Aggies stormed back against the Big 12's Kansas State, bouncing back from a first set loss to outlast the Wildcats in a five-set marathon behind 17 kills by junior Jade Light and 46 assists by sophomore Mia Starr.

FIRST SERVE

• The win, the first over a Power Four opponent in the 2024 season, gave the Aggies their second-straight win to open the season, having knocked off UMBC in four sets the previous day (Aug. 30)
• Light led the Aggies with 17 kills, paired with 15 digs and a pair of assists and blocks
• Sophomores Allie Caldwell and Mia Starr tallied seven blocks each to aid in the Aggie defense
• Starr also earned 46 assists throughout the game, just two away from her career best.
• Senior Julia Ng aids the team with 25 digs on the match, making up for more than a quarter of the Davis digs alone
• UC Davis defense was on top, recording 15 total blocks against the Wildcats.

WHAT HEAD COACH DAN CONNERS HAD TO SAY
"We played incredible defense throughout the match, and I thought it was just a great effort by the team. Our middles and serving was tough all match, and again Mia [Starr] ran a great offense. This team has something uncommon about them and they have bought into each other and the system we have built. We are excited to get back out there at it tomorrow."
  
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sophomore Ally Chandler started the Aggies off strong with her offense in the first set, earning four kills with a .500 hitting rate.
• Mia Starr added nine assists before the first set was over, a set the Aggies dropped to K-State.
• Head coach Dan Connors called a timeout in the second set with a deficit at 9-16, and some crucial service from junior Haden Bones and seniors Julia Ng and Olivia Utterback brought the Aggies back for their first set win of the game.
• Going into the third set with an even score, Kansas State pulled ahead by two, but a kill by Caldwell roused the Aggie offense, and back-to-back service aces by junior Makena Morrison put the Wildcats on their heels.
• Over the final points, Starr had each assist to give the Aggies a 2-1 lead.
• Set four started off strong with Light smoking three consecutive kills in a row before Kansas State could tie up the match.
• Offensive work by sophomore Reese Diersbock, Light, and senior Olivia Utterback pulled the Aggies ahead of the Wildcats in the final set.
• Utterback responded to the K-State pressure with three kills in a row and Diersbock followed that with one more of her own.
• After a service error by Kansas State, the game sat at a match point. The Wildcats pulled out one more kill before committing a second service error and to end the match and give the Aggies a five-set victory.

UP NEXT: The Aggies stay in West Lafayette, Ind., for one more match versus Purdue on September first at 11 a.m.
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